North West Leicestershire District's Council's Conservative/Liberal alliance has hit back at Labour claims that staffing levels are not sufficient to oversee private landlords.

Councillor Michael Wyatt, Portfolio Holder for Community Services at the district council, has moved to re-assure the public.

The council's Labour group said this week that they were 'highly dissatisfied' with the administration's new policies on dealing landlords.

Councillors claimed that the service is purely reactive, only picking up private tenants' complaints rather than pro-actively inspecting rented accommodation to ensure landlords are complying with their legal obligations.

But Cllr Wyatt said: "We'd like to reassure the public that our housing policies do give officers robust and up to date powers to deal with illegal eviction of people who are renting privately.

"We acknowledge that more resource in our enforcement team would allow us to be more proactive in checking landlords are acting responsibly and we are investigating various ways of increasing staffing levels.

"Staffing levels do not change the policies, which are fit for purpose.

"Whilst we appreciate scrutiny of our work by opposition members, on this occasion we feel it was simply the wording of a report to Cabinet that has led to a misunderstanding.

"This is why the challenge to call in the decision was overruled.

"Our daily work continues, to keep people renting in the private sector safe and secure in their homes."