Burnham pledges rogue landlord crackdown

The government will launch a fresh crackdown on rogue landlords, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced.

In his speech at the Labour Party Conference Tuesday, Burnham made the pledge while highlighting the large number of empty homes in the UK.

The government recently announced greater support for councils to seize long-term vacant homes but the prime minister also promised to do more against “absent landlords.”

These individuals, he said, are paid via the benefits system but do not reinvest in their properties.

“It is time to call an end to this,” said Burnham.

“Landlords who rent out the worst quality homes will be given warnings to improve them.

“If they refuse, we will make it much easier for councils to acquire those homes and we will legislate if necessary.”

Also on the topic of housing, Burnham reiterated support for councils to deliver more affordable housing.

“We need to restore stronger democratic control over our housing stock,” added Burnham, explaining this would include empowering councils to build on unused public land and the reform of Right-to-Buy.

“Not taking the right away from anyone in an existing home but removing it from the new homes we build so they are there for generations to come,” he said.