Several concerns have been highlighted in the renters’ rights bill, with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).
The CIEH has published written evidence, submitted to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee, on the bill as it progresses through parliament.
In particular, the CIEH is concerned about the enforcement “burden” this will place on local authorities and is calling on the government to provide additional funding as a result.
This, it argues, could come from fees for the private rented sector database and ombudsman schemes.
The CIEH is also calling for the 24 hours’ notice, that local authorities must currently give before visiting a landlord’s property, be scrapped.
In its evidence, the CIEH has argued that a landlord being forewarned, and then being present, for an inspection can be “an intimidating experience” for the tenant.
“This written evidence, which has been developed through our Housing Advisory Panel, is a substantial piece of work that will provide a very strong foundation for our further parliamentary activity around the bill,” said Mark Elliott, president of the CIEH.
“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.”
Elsewhere the CIEH has also identified a “peculiar disconnect” in the Housing Act 2004 licensing legislation.
With this, local authorities can introduce selective licensing schemes to address poor housing conditions but the CIEH argues they cannot include a directly enforceable requirement relating to housing conditions as a condition of the licence itself.
