A property law specialist has launched a campaign for a national register to allow landlords to check a tenants history before rental agreements are signed.

Nyree Applegarth (main picture), a Partner at West Midlands law firm Higgs LLP, wants a ‘Property Possession Order Register’ in place so landlords to have the ability to search for previous County Court judgments against prospective tenants.

CAMPAIGNING

Applegarth says: “I am campaigning for the introduction of a Property Possession Order Register.

“That way landlords would be able to see what, if any, orders have been granted against that person in previous properties, either for non-payment or damage.”

“Just like when you apply for job, you will only ask for a reference from someone you know will respond positively.

“Even if the reference comes from an employer, they don’t really know how that person acts as a tenant.

Applegarth’s comments come against a backdrop of an increasing number of landlords leaving the sector due to tax changes and the imminent end of no-fault evictions.

INVESTMENT DREAM

She adds: “Buy-to-let is no longer the investment dream it once was and we have a serious problem where more and more landlords are leaving the sector.

“The proposed end of no-fault eviction in the next one to two years means landlords will find it much more difficult to remove a tenant.

The quality of the tenant living under your roof is a complete lottery at the moment.”

“The quality of the tenant living under your roof is a complete lottery at the moment. There are serial offenders who know how to play the system and know they can’t be evicted prior to six months of occupation.

“Furthermore, the maximum deposit a landlord can request is five weeks. That is unlikely to cover any significant damage.

“A Property Possession Order Register, administered by the courts, would help alleviate these concerns and could help reassure some landlords sufficiently to stay in the sector.

“Property disputes would also inevitably reduce, along with the costs of lengthy litigation.”

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