Rent Repayment Orders have been extended to cover illegal eviction, breach of a banning order or failure to comply with certain statutory notices and £12 million has been made available to a range of local authorities with acute problems with rogue landlords, resulting in the inspection of over 70,000 properties and more than 5,000 landlords facing further action or prosecution for breaking the law. Tenants will have increased rights to sue landlords for providing substandard housing , under new powers proposed by a Labour government . The Private Member 's Bill introduced by Peter Buck has received government support , and it is almost certain to become law . Landlords would be required to ensure their properties are fit for human use throughout the tenancy and would be liable to legal action by tenants if they fail to do so . Currently , only local authorities have the power to compel landlords to make improvements .
Tenants will have increased rights to sue landlords for providing substandard housing , under new powers proposed by a Labour government . The Private Member 's Bill introduced by Peter Buck has received government support , and it is almost certain to become law . Landlords would be required to ensure their properties are fit for human use throughout the tenancy and would be liable to legal action by tenants if they fail to do so . Currently , only local authorities have the power to compel landlords to make improvements .