Halton Council has not prosecuted a single rogue landlord over the past five years despite receiving 1,351 complaints from tenants, new figures have revealed.

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests sent to local authorities in England and Wales revealed that just six landlords were taken to court in the whole of Cheshire during that time, and none at all in Halton.

Although councils do have numerous other enforcement options, advocates for tenants say it 'raises concern' about local authorities' ability to enforce compliance of housing regulations.

Law firm Public Interest Lawyers collected the information, finding that more than 100 councils did not take any landlords to court between 2019/20 and 2023/24.

The Renters’ Reform Coalition - a group of 20 organisations which have joined forces to lobby for changes to legislation affecting the private rented sector - said the data pointed to lack of resources for councils rather than a lack of willingness to take on rogue landlords.

Tom Darling, director of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said: "These are worrying findings. The key problem councils face here is ultimately a lack of resources, after years of rising costs and shrinking budgets.

"We’ve called on the Government to provide local authorities – who will have the crucial role of enforcing the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill – with the additional funding and guidance they need to protect renters from rogue landlords."

Across the 252 councils that responded to Public Interest Lawyers’ FOI requests, 438,523 complaints regarding housing conditions or landlord behaviour were recorded across the same five year period.

Cheshire West carried out one successful prosecution, with Warrington carrying out five. Cheshire East and Halton carried out none.

A Halton Council spokeswoman, said it investigates all complaints it receives from tenants about housing standards.

She said: "In most cases, an informal approach is the most appropriate and successful way to resolve the issue, particularly for minor disrepair. Prosecutions are costly and time consuming for both the council and the landlord, and a prosecution in itself does not resolve the disrepair or improve standards at the property."

She added: "The council has a range of enforcement powers available and won’t hesitate to use those powers, including prosecution where appropriate, to protect the health and safety of tenants and to address serious or persistent offending.”