The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health is raising concerns over what it describes as “the significant enforcement burden” imposed on council officers by the Renters Rights Bill.

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In its written evidence to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee which is reviewing the legislation, they argue that fees collected from landlords for joining the compulsory PRS database and ombudsman schemes should be allocated to hiring additional council officers to enforce these regulations.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) also recommends that the Bill should aim to eliminate unnecessary obstacles that hinder the use of licensing schemes to improve housing standards. This includes allowing local authorities with selective licensing schemes to apply license conditions that will improve housing conditions which align to the incoming PRS Decent Home Standard.

CIEH highlights a "peculiar disconnect" in the Housing Act 2004's licensing legislation where local authorities can implement selective licensing schemes to tackle poor housing conditions, but cannot enforce direct requirements for housing conditions as part of the license itself.

The organisation welcomes the proposed private rented sector database, viewing it as a valuable tool to help local authorities employ more targeted enforcement strategies.