Details are emerging about a new Landlords Database, which is one of the major provisions of the Renters Reform Bill.
Within the Bill, the government makes a commitment to establish a new Property Portal that would include all the vital information agents, tenants and landlords need to know. This information would range from legal requirements to rights and the landlord’s history of compliance.
It would include a landlord database containing details of people who are, or who intend to become, residential landlords; details of properties which are, or are intended to be, let as residential properties; and details of landlords who have received banning orders, including details of financial penalties or convictions relating to banning orders.
Under the Bill’s provisions, a letting agent or landlord would be unable to let or market a property to rent if there is no active landlord or property entry for that property registered on the database.
And if a landlord fails to join the database, they will be fined up to £5,000 by their local council. Repeated offences could lead up to fines of £30,000.
Propertymark says: “It will be the expectation that letting agents will need to check if a landlord and property are correctly registered on the database before they market a property for let. Property agents will face penalties if they advertise or market residential properties for rent which are not registered.
“Once established, the database will incorporate the Privately Rented Property Portal and start to include further information related to property standards, although the exact information continues to be deliberated by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.”
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, comments: “A key area for letting agents is the private rented sector database, property portal and landlord ombudsman and how these will interact with registration, unique identifiers and requirements before and when advertising property to rent.
“These are key policies that we will engage government and parliamentarians on in order to ensure they understand the value that letting agents play in delivering well managed, safe and secure rented property. The legislation must be workable, and evidence based.”
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The bit that’s missing is the registration fee we will no doubt have to pay to be registered. Just how much more of our cash and privacy does big brother want?
No thanks.
We already have this in Wales. It is called Rent Smart Wales. Nothing smart about them, they are just incompetent and uneccessary.
Yes Rent (not so) Smart Wales.
Regulate the genuine landlords whilst the rogues just carry on as normal, off the grid and flouting taxes.
They had to come up with this new contract debacle, to justify their existence, as they are as worthwhile as a chocolate teapot.
What ever they do, the Council's own rented properties should be treated by the same standards as private rented. The basic standards expected of private rented and council rented plus other social housing should be equal. Why is it the private rental landlords that are expected to have higher standards, and Councils turn a blind eye to conditions that their own tenants live in. if there is a database, then the council properties should be registered too and councils also fined when sub-standard to same basic requirements.
Spot on there.
Nearly all the complaints in the local paper, regarding poor conditions for tenants in properties, are in social housing, with damp being particularly prevalent.
Unless & until tenants are aware of the rules & report LLs who do not abide by them all this will achieve is good LLs registering. Given that reporting your LL will result in either your rent going up or eviction it is hard to see tenants getting involved!
I have licensed HMOs so I'm already on the Council's radar. For anyone who owns properties of a decent standard I can't see there's anything to fear.
The only concern may be the fees. If its per landlord it would be possibly be OK. If it's per property it could get expensive, especially if it's on top of licence fees we are already paying.
There is a Landlord Registration Scheme in Scotland which I think is under £100 for 3 years, but it's waived for Landlords already paying for an HMO licence.
I think there's a separate fee paid to each Local Authority but I don't know as all my properties have HMO licences.
The main objection I have to these schemes is that our home addresses become public domain which can be a safety hazard for Landlords and families.
The only time I used Bailiffs for an eviction a beat up old car with two dodgy guys were outside my house a couple of times until they realised I wasn't pursuing the rent dodgers or guarantors.
I now only rent to a group of students with solvent middle class property owning guarantors who value a good credit rating.
It’s not a Renter’s Reform Bill Its all balder dash a smoke screen disguising what’s really happening.
Its Gove’s- THE GREAT PROPERTY CONFISCATION ORDER that’s what’s going through Parliament, wake up landlords everyone else stand up for their rights even take to the Street but we are lambs to No 10 slaughter house,
Make no mistake this is taking us back 35 years and not a mur mur out of landlords and no one to Represent us and the main landlords Association going along with it feathering their own nest with side kick Businesses.
Tenant / Landlord relationship break down happening now no remedy and its a life Sentence for landlord permanent occupancy, even though we have done a life Sentence already, too upset to say anymore.
You are so right, Michael. There is no proper opposition to any of these measures. It as if free speech has become a thing of the past.
Ben Beadle is so weak he may as well not be at any of the meeting that have been had.
Another expense for landlords already paying for Local Authority Property Licensing.
I have concerns about my name and home address being so available. With the lack if rentals I am already experiencing some very determined applicants. Now local HMOs have sold up I have been pursued online by indian immigrant workers from a local poultry factory determined to rent a house from me despite being told no several times. I once had someone turn up at my door mob handed when I would not rent to them. I think Landlords should be entitled to some data protection in this regard.
I was thinking along similar lines.
Very valid point.
It is just one of a number of measures which probably make it unwise to continue to let property.
I have had the same experience as Catherine. Repeated requests from tenants who have already been rejected. The last time I had 180 people who wanted to rent a flat I had advertised and amongst that number there were some people who did not want to take no for an answer.
It is prudent to give as little information as possible to complete strangers.
I agree and have replied about my experience above.
I think it's outrageous that our families are put at risk just because of how we earn money.
And let's not forget how high the burglary rate is. Having landlords' addresses will be a perfect way for burglars to find targets where they may think there are valuables etc. We are being put in a very dangerous position. My friend's mother (a landlady) had a knife held to her throat in the middle of the night by burglars.
At the moment, tenants have the right to know my name and address; but my address is given as my lettings agent's office address on the tenancy agreement.
So unless tenant is very clever (I won't say how) or uses a tracing company (as I did for a departed ex-tenant non-payer to then send High Court Enforcement Group onto him to collect some of that unpaid) they cannot find where I live. hopefully they won't think of Land Registry as Jo Westlake says below.
My tenants have my e-mail address to contact me re any issues, but not my phone number; just the agent's.
I would be worried if the same provision for a nominated address were not to be allowed in the new database.
More regulations , means more people sucking money from landlords to justify their wages = rents going up = tenants complaining of ever rent increases = Michael Gove making new policies to cover these issues = more increasing rents.
WEll Doone Mr Tenant youv just managed to shoot yourself in the foot.
My thoughts are much the same as Catherine's. Providing our personal details to complete strangers, so anyone can do a rough calculation as to how rich we are - theoretically! This could be nosey neighbours, your relatives and anyone else who, frankly, has no need to know about my private business.
Apart from prospective tenants turning up at the door - especially if you are advertising a letting - will we also receive unwanted offers from trade companies and suppliers?
We are constantly reminded about 'GDPR' - just try asking for information about a prospective tenant from your local Council - but it would seem that GDPR does not apply to landlords.
If I want to find out whether a prospective tenant has any CCJ's, I at least have to pay (although bankruptcy searches are foc) - but my details will be available to absolutely anyone with a Smart phone.
I don't see any need for our personal information to be on a public register. Doesn't GDPR apply to us? I don't object to the Council holding the information for their use but it could cause serious safety issues if widely published. I already get bombarded with letters from people wanting to buy or manage my HMOs due to being on the HMO register.
If anyone really wants to find out who owns a property they just need to pay £3 to Land Registry. At least that way there would be a record of who had searched for our information and a good starting point should the Police need to get involved in the event of harassment.
I have written to my MP and advise all here to do the same. There is no need for our addresses or other private info to be in a public domain. I am ok with my tenants having these details but not anyone to browse as they wish.
Does anyone know if it is run through a letting agent or Ltd company do they still have a right to your home address?
I've also emailed my MP.
If it's a company just look on companies house .gov for free to see directors names and addresses
Good point Andrew with regards company house, but i understand you can set up addresses and PO Boxes for companies!
NOTHING TO FEAR They said that when only Jewish families had to be registered in Germany
Draw your own conclusions
Further to my comment above:-
"It would include a landlord database containing details of people who are, or who intend to become, residential landlords ......."
How on earth can they ask for details about someone who might 'intend to become' a landlord. That could be any wannabe browsing Rightmove!!
I think ! but could be wrong, that someone intending to become a LLD can register that with HMRC (so they can start claiming some expenses against future income - but that is from a property accountant on online seminar, and I'm not sure it tallies with what HMRC say about not claiming for anything that puts you in a position to run a rental business).
When are we going to have a tenant database, if you're a tenant, or have been a tenant or thinking about a tenant you must register and could face not being allowed to rent if you fail to register.
Equal opportunities I say.
Agreed Andy, would seem fair and reasonable to me to have a tenant databass
Of course there will be no rogue tenant database or criminal council database the big lie about a fairer rented sector is an insult to every decent human ,
This scapegoating of minorities will continue until we are all eliminated , then they will find another minority to scapegoat to cover up their negligence and incompetence
A country governed by discrimination injustice and hate is only heading one way, history makes that clear
Tricia, don’t think for a second the Tenants don’t know the rules. They know better than the landlords with their iPhones and conflab with their friends and we have to give them the Right 2 Rent nonsense booklet.
Some lead Tenants are raking it in and I know it. It’s like the Rent 2 Rent scam they make more out of the property than the owner, own nothing and no Mortgage to pay, same for lead Tenants. I see some LL’s going around in old bangers fixing everything and worrying about Regulation’s d. The lead Tenant in brand new cars, putting on weight with Uber feeding them and flying off on holidays.
So if landlords even know he can’t do nothing he’ll get fined no penalties for Tenants, they’ll always have Council backing it is happening. 3 bed terrace 3 up 2 down one doubles as bedroom, Council restricts to 4 person with Additional HM0 licence, Tenant doubles up now have 2 rooms to let out for themselves, sometimes airbnb.
This is happening in HMO’s can you imagine when no license is required.
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