Government to gather data on council PRS enforcement staffing

The government has confirmed it will introduce a mandatory collection of private rented sector (PRS) enforcement data, including information on staffing levels within local authorities.

In response to a written parliamentary question, ministers said they are currently developing systems to gather the data.

The news comes ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force on 1 May 2026.

Mandatory collection of PRS enforcement data

Lord Carter of Haslemere asked the government: “How many local authority staff in England have responsibility for enforcement action in the private rented sector.”

In response, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said: “My Department does not currently hold the requested information.

“However, we are in the process of implementing a new mandatory collection of private rented sector enforcement data from local housing authorities, which will include the number of full-time equivalent staff responsible for enforcement in the private rented sector.”

The news comes after Mansfield District council admitted it underestimated how many privately rented homes would need a licence under its new selective licensing scheme, forcing it to recruit two more staff members.

A report from the council’s private sector housing manager reveals that the license demand means that more staff are needed ‘to adequately enforce the selective licensing requirements and conditions’.

A Parliamentary debate in the Lords is also scheduled on the 11 February to discuss how landlords, tenants and local authorities are prepared for each phase of the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act.