Councils should be given the power to recoup housing benefit payments from rogue landlords, according to leading MPs.

In a report published on 15 July, the Communities and Local Government Select Committee
recommends giving councils new powers to tackle landlords and letting agents who act improperly.

The report calls for local authorities to be given the ability to claim back payments if a landlord if convicted of letting a property that has fallen below legal standards.

‘It is unacceptable that taxpayers' money is being used to pay housing benefit to landlords for
sub-standard properties,' said committee chair, Clive Betts.

‘Where this occurs and the landlord is convicted, local authorities should be able to get
that money back.'

The report also recommends cutting red tape around licensing schemes and enforcement
and giving councils the power to make landlords be part of a recognised accreditation scheme.

‘There should be heavy penalties for non-compliance,' said Mr Betts.

It also proposes giving the Office of Fair Trading the power to ban agents who act improperly
and that the Government work with tenants, landlords and agents to develop a single, standard
tenancy agreement.

‘I want to see renting as an attractive alternative to owner occupation,' said Mr Betts. ‘The market has to better meet the needs of renters. Tenants and landlords need to be much better informed about their rights and responsibilities.'

A new report by the Resolution Foundation claims a third of the country is now ‘off limits' to families on lower incomes as rents continue to increase. Couples with a single child and an annual net income of
£22,000 would be unable to rent a modest property in 125 local authority areas, according to the report.