Following a government commissioned Rugg review new regulation has been proposed to govern the number of private landlords in England, who total over a million. Over 70 per cent of those landlords are private individuals or couples.
The review found that, although the vast majority offer a good service, some landlords suffered from a lack of professional 'perspective' and knowledge of current legislation. However, less reassuringly, standards in our private rental sector are lower than in both social housing and owner occupation.
Due to the difficulty in identifying 'rogue' landlords, local authorities find it difficult to come to the aid of tenants in trouble.
The solution lies in a proposed register which would include the names and addresses of all landlords in the Private Rental Sector, and would most likely link them to their rental properties.
Under this scheme, landlords would be charged a yearly £50 fee. The fee would grant the landlord a landlord registration number to be used in tenancy agreements, court proceedings including eviction, and housing benefit claims.The register would be overseen by an independent organisation, It would, claims the Government, benefit landlords as well as tenants.
A benefit to the landlord would be advanced notification of changes to legislation via the register's mailing list.
While the Government argues that the register is as of benefit to both tenants and landlords, many professionals disagree, arguing that they are already heavily regulated.
The collection of rental property addresses has been seen by some as an invasion of privacy with no positive effects for either party. Some opponents of the register even fear that it could lead to rogue landlords carrying on as before while driving honest landlords away.
Would you welcome a register for private landlords in England?
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