An activist group says a surprise government announcement will deter criminality amongst some landlords.

The government revealed just days from Christmas that a pilot project is being extended 41 councils in total.

They will now be able to recover up to 24 months of rent from private landlords through an extension of the Rent Repayment Order regime – double the previous limit of 12 months.

Rent Repayment Orders are typically imposed on landlords who operate properties without the required licence, ignore improvement notices, or leave their houses in poor conditions.

In response to the move, the activist group Justice for Tenants says: “This pilot has shown that we can deter criminality in the private rented sector and help fund housing enforcement services by making those who break the law shoulder more of the cost.

“This pilot is a massive win for all law-abiding landlords, tenants receiving public funds, the NHS, and every taxpayer in the country.”

And the leader of Labour-controlled Camden council in London – where the pilot project took place – adds: “With more than a third of households in Camden privately renting, it’s vital that we ensure landlords are meeting important safety and management standards for residents.

“This pilot helps us take further action against rogue landlords and regain the public money they wrongly pocketed. We’re investing this into more enforcement action and improving private sector housing conditions for everyone across the borough.

“Living in a decent, safe home is fundamental to health and work, and vulnerable renters who live in unsuitable accommodation are limited in their ability to take on work.Enforcing better standards will drive up living standards through incentivising better practice in the future, as well as protecting taxpayer cash.”

The scheme gives councils streamlined access to Universal Credit data which is required for completing Rent Repayment Order applications