The National Landlords’ Association says the extra £2 billion in funding made available by the government for additional affordable housing may indirectly lead to a reduction in the number of rogue landlords.

Responding to the affordable housing announcement in Theresa May’s ill-fated speech to the Conservative conference, NLA chief executive Richard Lambert says:“The majority of landlords would agree that more social housing should be built, and it’s about time that the Prime Minister set aside a significant pot of money to do so.”

He said that government, society and taxpayers would get better long-term value from investing in building than by subsidising rents.

“[The] announcement should not only provide more available housing for those most in need at rents they can afford, it should also relieve the pressure on the private sector, and choke off the breeding-ground for the minority of rogues and criminals who get away with providing substandard housing and neglecting their tenants” he added.