The LGA has responded to the Government's launch of the public consultation on a decent homes standard for the private rented sector.

The LGA was "pleased that the Government is making progress on their commitment to extending a legally binding decent Homes Standard to improve conditions in the private rented sector"

Cllr. David Renard, the organisation's housing spokesperson added it was "vital" that councils were properly resourced via "New Burdens Funding" in order to successfully implement the new standard and that the standard should be introduced in a way that minimised disruption to the supply of PRS housing stock.

He also raised other hotly debated issues relating to the private rented sector saying "we would like to see inappropriate Local Housing Allowance rates addressed, and .... stronger selective licensing powers" for councils via removing the requirement for larger selective licensing schemes to get approval from the Secretary of State at DLUHC.

Landlords would likely agree with the first of these but probably not so much with the second.

However, The National Residential Landlords Association has said introduction of the standard must be accompanied by better enforcement of existing regulations against rogue and criminal landlords operating in the sector backed up by "properly resourced" local authorities.

NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle also added that the "Government's plans should focus on making it easier for landlords, tenants and councils to understand what is expected of them by simplifying the almost 170 laws affecting the sector."