CRACKING down on rogue landlords under the new Renter’s Rights Act will have to be partly funded by the money generated from prosecuting them, a councillor in Bath has warned.

The new law, which came into effect on May 1, bans no fault evictions and other unfair practices like stopping tenants having a pet. Local authorities have been given new investigatory powers and financial penalties to enforce the new rules.

The financial penalties designed as an enforcement tool could be needed to pay for the enforcement to happen.

B&NES cabinet member responsible for housing, Cllr Matt McCabe said: “There is some transition money, but in future it will be that we will have to supplement from prosecutions. Which is not a sensible way forward in my view.”