£100,000 in funding to tackle rogue landlords has been awarded to the council, it was announced on Monday.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) successfully bid for a third of the south east pot of government funding.

The council will use this funding to produce a new private sector stock conditions survey and will gain an automated application sifting process; the latter is expected to save on time and resources.

Councillor John Ennis, lead member for housing, highlighted the value of the stock conditions survey – last produced in 2013 - at Monday’s policy committee.

He said: “As part of the council’s plans to ensure the safety and quality of the private rented sector, officers will be working to update the stock condition survey.

“In addition to providing vital up to date information about the state of the private and rental sector, it will determine whether any additional licensing scheme is required.

He added: “The private sector housing team is one of the best councils currently the south east for enforcement.”

Cllr Ennis mentioned the survey while answering a question from councillor Rob White on the new requirement for smaller properties to have a houses in multiple occupation (HMO) licence.

He confirmed that only 135 landlords out of an estimated 3000 have signed up to the new government legislation, with the deadline just two weeks away.

The lead member for housing said the council would consider adding further legislation for the ‘tiny minority’ of landlords that ‘skirt around and avoid' it.

Bidding for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government funding to crack down on rogue landlords opened in November, with a national pot of £2m.

Reading is one of seven councils across the south east sharing £301,000 in extra funding.

Slough were awarded £22,000 to purchase specialist inspection software and training for existing staff.

Housing Minister Heather Wheeler MP said: “Everyone across the South East has the right to live in a home that is safe and secure, and it is vital we crack down on the small minority of landlords who are not giving their tenants this security.

“This extra funding will further boost the ability to root out rogue landlords and ensure that poor-quality homes in the area are improved, making the housing market fairer for everyone.”