The Labour party has mocked the government’s £4m new funding for councils to combat rogue agents and landlords as “puny.”

A statement from shadow housing secretary John Healey says: “This puny commitment is a drop in the ocean compared to the cuts that councils have faced since 2010.

“The truth is that the Conservatives have gifted rogue landlords the freedom to flourish, by cutting council budgets, weakening their powers and refusing to legislate to drive up standards.

“Renters need a new legal charter of rights, with longer tenancies, new minimum standards and rent controls to make renting more affordable.”

Healey’s comments come in response to the announcement by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government over the weekend, saying that some 100 councils would share £4m to beef up enforcement against rogue agents and landlords.

The cash will pay for the training of more enforcement officers and establishing specialist ‘operations units’ in different local authorities. 

“This government will deliver a better deal for renters” says Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick.

“It’s completely unacceptable that a minority of unscrupulous landlords continue to break the law and provide homes which fall short of the standards we rightly expect – making lives difficult for hard-working tenants who just want to get on with their lives.

“Everyone deserves to live in a home that is safe and secure and the funding announced today will strengthen councils’ powers to crack down on poor landlords and drive up standards in the private rented sector for renters across the country.”