Taskforce to crackdown on Sandwell rogue landlords over concerns migrants are being forced to live in poor conditions

Sandwell Council is poised to set up a rogue landlords taskforce to check rented properties, particularly shared housing being lived in by multiple people.

It comes amid increasing fears about the quality of accommodation being offered to poorer families, including people arriving in the UK from abroad, who may be being cramped into unsuitable conditions.

Council bosses said 'urgent action' was required and are to apply for more than £300,000 in funding to 'help tackle rogue landlords in the privately rented sector, who do not comply with housing regulations'.

As part of the crackdown, the council said 500 inspections would be carried out in West Bromwich and Smethwick.

The council said the increase in migrants settling in Sandwell - which rose from 815 in 2015 to 1,025 last year - has seen demand for privately rented properties soar, as refugees are not eligible for council housing.

Around 80 people, including families with children who were mostly Romanian, were evacuated from the Metro Court office block in West Bromwich town centre in July, due to fears over fire safety.

Housing chiefs have become increasingly concerned since inspections of 200 properties in 2015 revealed all required some form of action.

A council report on rogue landlords warned action would be taken against landlords whose properties do not comply with regulations.

The report said: "Sandwell has experienced a rapid growth in the privately rented sector of 7.8 per cent in the last two years.

"This has led to an increased need for enforcement action due to the number of both inexperienced landlords who do not fully understand their legal responsibilities and rogue landlords who knowingly contravene regulatory requirements."