Council’s across the country are being given a slice of £4million of government funds to tackle rogue landlords.
Twenty-three local authorities will share the funding to crackdown on landlords who force tenants to live in poorly maintained, overcrowded properties.
The money will enable councils to work more effectively with a number of agencies including the Department for Work and Pensions, Trading Standards and HMRC to prosecute rogue landlords.
Housing Minister Kris Hopkins insists the cash will enable councils to root out what he called “beds in sheds”.
Mr Hopkins said: “The majority of tenants are happy with their home, but the private rental market is still afflicted by too many unscrupulous Scrooges.
“These are miserly landlords who rent dangerous, dirty and overcrowded properties without a thought for the welfare of their tenants.
“We want to root out the cowboys and rogue operators, and consign these scenes of Dickensian destitution to where they belong: the history books.”
Among councils to benefit, Oxford City Council has been awarded £150,000, NottinghamCity council has landed £124,000, East Lancashire will receive £109,000 and Plymouth City Council has been given £68,000.
The money is part of the government-led Operation CARL, Co-ordination Against Rogue Landlords.