The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill will place a huge enforcement burden on already stretched local councils.

In written evidence to the Commons public bill committee, the group says the PRS should limit burdens on taxpayers by funding local authority regulation, with fees for the new database and ombudsman schemes used to fund enforcement and help councils attract new staff and fund training.

“The Bill allows for database fees to be passed on to local authorities but there is no comparable source of direct revenue generation for funding enforcement burdens associated with the new ombudsman service,” it explains. “Local authorities are already severely under-resourced and struggling to meet their existing enforcement burdens.”

It says an average of 2.46 environmental health officers for every 10,000 private rented sector homes in London boroughs and 2.2 in metropolitan and unitary authorities can’t cope with the existing numbers of tenant complaints.

Heavy reliance

The CIEH adds that the Bill’s heavy reliance on civil penalty notices appears to assume this income will support a large proportion of enforcement costs, when most cases are resolved through informal action.

“The rental sector should limit burdens on the taxpayer by funding local authority regulation. Moreover, central government funding will need to be sustained beyond the initial years of the introduction of these new duties and reflect the relative size of the private rented sector for each local authority.”

It suggests that local authorities should receive ring-fenced funding based on the number of private rented sector properties registered in their areas.

President Mark Elliott (main image) hopes its written evidence will provide a strong foundation for further parliamentary activity around the Bill. “Following our oral evidence to the Public Bill Committee last month, we will continue making the voice of environmental health professionals heard on this crucial piece of legislation,” he adds.

Last week the CIEH urged the Government to make selective licensing schemes last ten years instead of five.‍