Government to force councils to report extensive PRS enforcement data

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Greater scrutiny of council policing of the private rented sector will lead to tougher action against rogue landlords and more prosecutions.

23rd Jan 20260 1,011 1 minute read Simon Cairnes

The Government has said it will introduce the mandatory collection of local authorities’ enforcement data in the private rented sector (PRS) after the RRA comes into force in May, including the number of staff they have working on it.

Responding to a question in the House of Lords, Housing Minister Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (pictured) admitted the department “does not currently hold” national figures on how many local authority staff in England are responsible for PRS enforcement.

She did, though, confirm that the proposed new Duty to Report requirements will include disclosing the number of full-time equivalent staff responsible for enforcement in the private rented sector.

Activity and outcomes

The report, however, is expected to go well beyond just being a staffing headcount and will include comprehensive information on enforcement activity and outcomes. That will entail councils providing numbers for things such as how many rent repayment orders (RROs) they have applied for, the value of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit recovered following an RRO, and how many tenants have been supported by councils to make an application.

It follows the launch of a voluntary PRS enforcement data collection in August 2025, introduced in the run-up to the statutory Duty to Report, which helps councils to collate and submit PRS enforcement information.

Mounting concerns

The finer details will become clearer after a House of Lords debate scheduled for 11 February to discuss how landlords, tenants and local authorities are prepared for each phase of implementation.

There are, though, already serious concerns over the policing of the RRA. A mandatory reporting system would provide comparative data and increase the scrutiny on how effective councils are at enforcing the new rules.

TagsBaroness Taylor of Stevenage renters' rights act 23rd Jan 20260 1,011 1 minute read Simon Cairnes Share Facebook X LinkedIn Share via Email