The Pros and Cons
Would a national landlord register be a good idea? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of a national landlord register:
Benefits to tenants. Tenants could find a national landlord register useful when looking for a new home to rent. Tenants would be able to check whether their prospective landlord complies with all the relevant rules and regulations, or perhaps if they are in breach of any of them.
Better control of bad landlords. A national landlord register could make it easier to ban rogue landlords, as they could be removed from the register. It could also help prevent those who are not fit and proper people to become landlords from becoming landlords in the first place.
Reduction in landlord scams. Landlords scams, where criminals advertise a property to let that does not exist and then take fees or deposits from applicants, have occurred in recent years. A national landlord register would make it harder to operate these scams.
Benefits to landlords. Although some landlords may not welcome the introduction of a national landlord register it might actually be welcomed by some. A national landlord register could allow good landlords to show that they comply with all the rules and regulations. Landlords may even find new tenants as a result of being listed in the register.
An aid to enforcement. Public bodies would be able to use a national landlord register to aid their enforcement activities. A register is likely to identify who legally owns and who is responsible for each rental property.
Local councils would be able to use the register to enforce HMO licensing, planning rules and the possible introduction of the Decent Homes Standard in private rentals.
Tax authorities would be able to use a national landlord register to check tax compliance.
Raising standards in the PRS. Landlords who are part of a national landlord register may need to comply with a code of practice in order to maintain their registration. This could help raise standards in the private rented sector.
The cost of a national landlord register. Setting up and running a national landlord register would require government funding. Landlords would almost certainly need to pay to be listed on a national landlord register. This cost could indirectly add to the rent tenants have to pay. Penalties and fines levied on landlords could raise revenue, however.
Impact on the private rented sector. The extra work and cost involved with complying with a national landlord register could encourage some landlords to sell their rental properties and discourage others from investing in buy-to-let. This could reduce the supply of rented property and push up rents.
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