Propertymark has welcomed the government’s injection of another £41m into local councils to police the Renters Rights Act.

But the trade body says that, by itself, isn’t enough.

Timothy Douglas, its head of policy and campaigns, comments: “Propertymark has consistently called for the proper resourcing of enforcement if the ambitions of the Renters Rights Act are to be realised, so this additional £41m to support councils in delivering new enforcement powers is a welcome and necessary step.

“This funding recognises that enforcement must go hand-in-hand with legislative change. 

“Propertymark has long highlighted that without sufficient funding, staffing and training, councils would struggle to enforce new and existing regulations effectively.

“While this support will help local authorities implement and enforce the new measures, it is equally important that councils are supported to improve housing standards more broadly. 

“In particular, there must be sustained investment in the recruitment and retention of Environmental Health Officers, who play a critical role in enforcement on the ground.”

He additionally wants the government to promote careers in the enforcement sector and create what it calls “training pathways” to build the skilled workforce needed to uphold standards across the private rented sector.

Douglas concludes: “It is vital that this funding is sustained and used strategically to build long-term capacity, not just short-term fixes. 

“Consistent and proportionate enforcement is key to driving up standards, tackling criminal landlords, and maintaining confidence among good agents and landlords who already comply with the rules.”

Earlier this week the government revealed that all 317 local authorities in England are getting a share of £60m in total ahead of the Act coming into force.

The total comprises of £41.12m in new funding following an initial £18.2m allocated to councils last autumn.

A statement from the government says: “To ensure justice is delivered for both renters and landlords up to £50m will be invested to modernise the civil courts and this includes digitalising court processes. 

“Further still, an additional £5m is being invested into fee uplifts for the housing legal aid sector each year, so all renters can continue to access free help and support in the event of facing eviction from their home.”