The National Residential Landlords Association says it’s met with new housing minister Matthew Pennycook to discuss improving standards in the rental sector.

In particular the association says the Government’s plan for a new landlord database is “an opportunity to create transparency of property safety and drive rogue landlords from the sector.”

Meera Chindooroy, the NRLA’s Deputy Director for Campaigns, Public Affairs and Policy says: “We are committed to raising standards and driving rogue and criminal landlords out of the sector and – implemented in the right way – the new database can help do that.

“We know from our own research that the approach to enforcement varies across local authority areas. The new system has the potential to challenge these disparities in a simple and affordable way, allowing councils to focus on identifying and dealing with landlords who are not compliant.

“The NRLA has already met with housing minister Matthew Pennycook and will work constructively to bring about fair and workable reform that will allow the government to meet its commitment to tenants while supporting responsible landlords and encouraging investment.”

The association sits on a so-called lettings advisory panel established by Zoopla, which recently wrote to  Pennycook demanding stricter regulation to drive out rogue landlords and poorly trained agents.

The board’s letter to Pennycook wants the government to:

– Raise standards by levelling the playing field for those letting and managing rented homes;

– Safeguard the quality of accommodation;

– Help tenants know the property they are renting is safe; and 

– Help regulatory authorities in identifying those who do not meet the required standards. 

The letter stressed the importance of industry input when it comes to designing the database, to ensure it delivers its intended purposes and links to the ambition for a decent homes standard for private rented homes. 

It says a database that is accessible to property portals and lenders could create automated regulation and enforcement, allowing local authorities to focus their efforts on properties that do not hold required safety certificates. 

The lettings group was set up by Zoopla in 2020 with its co-chairs being Richard Donnell – the portal’s research chief – and Nicola Thivessen, a senior figure in the Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward agency. 

Members include Carrie Anderson from Hunters, Ben Beadle of the National Association of Residential Landlords, letting agents Kristjan Byfield, Michael Cook, Kevin Day, Maxine Fothergill and Eric Walker, mediation expert Julie Ford, and two figures from Zoopla and its parent company Houseful.