ARLA Propertymark has slammed the new database of rogue landlords and letting agents, which will come into effect from tomorrow, as ‘a pointless exercise’.
The database, as well as new banning orders, was initially welcomed by trade body for letting agents when announced last year as part of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to root out rogue landlords.
But while the database will include details about landlords who have been served with a banning order or have been convicted of a banning order offence, preventing them from letting or managing a property, this information will not will not be made public.
David Cox, Chief Executive, ARLA Propertymark, said: “When this legislation was first announced, we were wildly supportive – anything which will help eradicate bad letting agents and landlords has our full support. However, the outcome is disappointing.
“The database won’t be public, which means no one will be able to see it and therefore letting agents and landlords who are on the list can continue operating with impunity.
“This appears to be a pointless exercise; if the list were made public – like the equivalent for estate agents – rogue agents and landlords would leave the market for good.”
According to the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), these are the main offences that could lead to a landlord receiving a banning order and being included on the new list:
+ Illegally evicting or harassing a residential occupier in contravention of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977
+ Using violence to secure entry under the Criminal Law Act 1977
+ Failure to comply with an Improvement Notice
+ Failure to comply with a prohibition order
+ Offences in relation to licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation;
+ Offences in relation to licensing of houses under Part 3 of Housing Act 2004
+ Contravention of an overcrowding notice
+ Failure to comply with management regulations in respect of HMOs
+ Providing false or misleading information