ABSTRACT
In recent years local government has been put in the forefront of controlling bad behaviour through a combination of new obligations and new powers. On the one hand, primarily in their role as housing landlords, councils have moved into realms of enforcement far greater than those traditionally imparted through housing law, using a growing array of legal powers to bring perpetrators to heel. Ironically this has been happening at the same time as their part in the provision of social housing has been severely curtailed in favour of other providers. 1
