The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has called for increased government funding to support enforcement of the Renters Rights Bill, warning that local authorities lack the resources to uphold new protections.

In a submission to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee—currently investigating housing conditions in England—CIEH said councils need additional funding to recruit enforcement officers and provide proper training.

The institute also urged legislative changes to strengthen local authority powers. These include allowing councils with selective licensing schemes to use licence conditions to improve the physical state of rented properties, and extending the maximum duration of additional HMO and selective licensing schemes from five to ten years.

CIEH warns against overreliance on tenants to enforce housing standards

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has cautioned that neither the Decent Homes Standard nor Awaab’s Law will eliminate the need for councils to use licensing conditions to tackle widespread disrepair in areas with poor housing stock.

In its submission to Parliament, CIEH argues that relying on tenants to initiate legal action against landlords is unrealistic and unfair—particularly in communities where poverty and vulnerability are common. The organisation warns that without proactive enforcement powers, many local authorities will struggle to address unsafe or substandard housing before serious problems arise.

Mark Elliott, president of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, states: “This written evidence, which has been developed through our Housing Advisory Panel, is a substantial piece of work and an important contribution to the inquiry. 

“We have raised a wide range of issues about housing regulation in our written and oral evidence and would urge the Committee to consider these issues carefully. We will continue to make the voice of environmental health practitioners heard on the need to tackle poor housing conditions.”