Councils will be able to bid for share of up to £3m to tackle irresponsible landlords in their area, who allow their tenants to live in unsafe and squalid conditions, putting lives at risk and disrupting local communities.

Housing minister Mark Prisk said councils will be able to make the most of their powers to prosecute with the additional funding.

Prisk said: “The majority of tenants are happy with their home and the service they receive, but there are still a minority of rogue landlords who exploit vulnerable people and force their tenants to live in overcrowded and squalid conditions.

“It’s unacceptable that the lives of tenants and their neighbours are made a misery in the name of profit. That’s why today I’m offering councils a share of £3m to take on the rogue operators in their area.”

Unscrupulous landlords exploit vulnerable people, with reports suggesting that some work with gangmasters to house illegal migrants.

The poor quality, overcrowded and often dangerous accommodation they provide can result in:

 noise problems
 sanitation issues for whole streets
 greater fire risk
 council tax and benefit fraud
 anti-social behaviour such as street drinking

Prisk said the new fund would build on the government’s ongoing work of tackling ‘beds in sheds’ where garages are used to house people, often illegal migrants, and hidden from local government.

Backed by £2.6m government funding, more than 500 illegally rented outbuildings and overcrowded homes have been discovered since 2011 and action is now being taken against the owners.

The minister has also expanded the role of the ‘beds in sheds’ taskforce to consider the best way to tackle rogue landlords. This cross-government team will support successful councils as they work to take these illegal operators to task.