Responding to a report by the National Audit Office on regulation of private renting, Cllr David Renard, Local Government Association housing spokesperson, said:
“Councils want all tenants to be able to live in safe and secure, high-quality housing and can play a key role in driving up standards in the private rented sector.
“With more powers such as the freedom to establish landlord licensing schemes, councils would be better placed to support a good quality local private rented offer in their communities.
“Where councils need to take action, some issues may be resolved without the need for inspection and enforcement is a last resort when all other options fail.
“Longer term, the key to increasing housing security is to address the unaffordability of housing. Giving councils the powers and resources to build 100,000 social homes for rent a year would go a long way towards tackling this urgent issue.”
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