£3.8m Announced for England’s Councils to Tackle Criminal Landlords

The Private Rented Sector Innovation and Enforcement Grant has been established to enable local authorities in England to support new, innovative, or targeted short-term initiatives to address the issue of criminal landlords who rent out unsafe and substandard accommodation.

The aim is to raise the standard of properties in the private rented sector (PRS) by supporting projects that will help local authorities to carry out their duties and use their existing budgets more effectively; and to develop or enhance existing PRS enforcement activities.

The scheme will fund projects which take effective and targeted action against criminal landlords, support good landlords in fulfilling their responsibilities and empower tenants to make good use of their rights.

A total budget of £3.8 million of funding is available in 2019-20. There is no minimum or maximum level of funding specified, however, bids should be proportionate to the size of the fund and scale of the project and linked to the target outcomes.

Applications are invited from all local authorities in England. Joint applications from multiple local authorities are also welcome. Bids that will impact vulnerable tenants, such as care leavers, are particularly encouraged.

Launching the programme, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said:

“It’s unacceptable that a small minority of unscrupulous landlords appear to be breaking the law and providing homes which fall short of the standards that tenants rightly expect.

“Everyone deserves to live in a home that is safe and secure, and [this funding] will help to further strengthen councils’ powers to crack down on criminal landlords and drive up standards in the private rented sector.”

The deadline for applications is 1 December 2019.

More information about this funding opportunity and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news and policy. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.