A national charitable organisation, Homeless Link, has called for private landlords to be regulated.
The umbrella body says it is one of the steps needed to combat homelessness.
Reflecting the views of over 300 agencies, professionals and clients, its report, ‘A place to call your home’ also calls on all political parties to prioritise housing at the next election.
Meanwhile, Labour councillors in the London borough of Westminster have called for a compulsory register of private landlords to be set up by the council.
The move follows news that in the last year, Westminster Council officials inspected 1,712 rental properties, resulting in 206 legal notices being issued and hundreds of dangerous objects and hazards being removed.
Westminster has one of the largest populations of private tenants in the UK, at an estimated 40% of the population.
Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour Group, said: “The scale of the problems found by the council’s inspectors is very worrying and there are strong arguments for the council to establish a compulsory landlord registration scheme so that all landlords have to meet certain basic standards before they are allowed to let property.
“Westminster has the highest concentration of private flats in the UK, and proper regulation is needed if tenants are to be properly protected from the minority of bad landlords.”
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Comments
Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg and all the other parasitic morons living off the state and not doing their jobs properly are just after more finance to pay for their failed policies and practices. All the necessary laws and policies already exist for landlords and councils to manage the standard of properties for let. The soft target as is the landlord who is attacked daily by every unthinking and sheep like media and special interest group in the country. I recently licensed an 8 be HMO for five years for £900, its has been inspected and altered to the satisfaction of the authority and is running well. What is so bloody difficult about that and inspecting and ensuring other properties are in suitable condition. The local authorities don't want to tackle this BECAUSE THEY ARE THE WORST LANDLORDS IN BRITAIN and they don't want attention on them. Massive charges, huge fines even a drug dealer wouldn't get to demonise a hugely valuable resource in the UK, the landlords of rental properties. Hardly a serious issue, what next jail terms for a leaking roof!! I wouldn't put it past the morons running this countries councils and all govt departments. MORONS 1 and all.