The trade association has called for more robust enforcement action to support national reforms and confirmed that the £41 million allocation will help deliver the aims of the Renters’ Rights Act and ensure new regulations are effectively implemented at local level.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at the group, said his organisation had repeatedly highlighted that sufficient enforcement resources were vital if the Renters’ Rights Act objectives were to be met, so the additional £41 million to assist councils in exercising new enforcement powers was a welcome and necessary step.

He added that this financial commitment recognised that enforcement must go hand in hand with legislative change.

According to Mr Douglas, the group had consistently emphasised that without sufficient funding, staff and training, local authorities would struggle to properly enforce both new and existing rules.

He further underlined that the funding should form part of a broader programme to improve housing standards across the country.

Mr Douglas said that while this support would help councils implement and enforce the new measures, it was equally important that authorities received assistance to raise housing standards generally.

He noted that sustained investment in recruiting and keeping environmental health officers, who play a critical role in on-the-ground enforcement, was essential.

However, Mr Douglas stressed that it was vital this funding continued and was used wisely to build sustainable capacity rather than simply offering short-term fixes.

The association has 18,000 members, including estate and letting agents, commercial agents, auctioneers, valuers and inventory service providers.

Mr Douglas observed that consistent and proportionate enforcement was essential for improving standards, tackling unprofessional landlords and maintaining confidence among legitimate agents and landlords who already comply with regulations.

He said the group would continue working with the UK Government and local authorities to ensure the new rental framework was fair, practical and workable for all parties involved.