Local authorities across the UK have recently been surveyed to assess their performance in identifying and dealing with unlicensed houses with multiple occupancy (HMOs), it has been reported.

According to the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (Lacors), councils have received a total of 22,314 applications from landlords operating licensable HMOs, which are home to over 111,570 tenants.

In news that may be of interest to those seeking housing jobs, around 86 per cent of local authorities have already adopted a number of tools intended to identify HMOs being operated illegally.

Additionally, 95 per cent of councils are network partners with other local authorities, using their links to push forward best practice.

Emma Van Field, spokesperson for Lacors, said: "Lacors is also setting out a tool kit for local authorities to help them highlight and identify where the unlicensed HMOs are - and then what to do with them once they’ve found them with various enforcement tools and the powers that they have."

Set up in 1978, Lacors was created to coordinate the enforcement of trading standards operations.

More about network partners.