The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has recently written to Michael Gove strongly advising him to cut red tape to make it far easier for councils to introduce selective licensing schemes.

CIEH argues the point that selective licensing plays a major part in the government’s levelling up directives as it delivers its pledge to halve the number of unfit private and social rented homes by 2030.

CIEH head of policy and campaigns ,Ross Matthewman, says: “The tragic death of Awaab Ishak has highlighted the importance of improving housing conditions in all types of tenure to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

“There are several ways in which the UK government could make it easier for local authorities to use selective licensing schemes to improve housing conditions in the private rented sector.

“Firstly, the government needs to ensure that local authorities operating such schemes can improve housing conditions through licence conditions. The independent review highlights a disconnect in the legislation whereby local authorities can introduce selective licensing to tackle poor property conditions but cannot include a directly enforceable requirement relating to property condition as a condition of the licence itself.

“Secondly, the government should use national landlord registration to support selective licensing. The proposed property portal is a step in the right direction. We are unclear though whether it will provide local authorities with the information they need in order to check the suitability of landlords before issuing a licence.

“Thirdly, the government should make it easier to set up selective licensing schemes. We are concerned that some local authorities may be deterred from setting up such schemes by the bureaucracy and expense involved in doing so.