National landlord register risks increasing workload and fees

A national landlord register risks “increasing workload and fees without improving standards”, it has been suggested.

Propertymark issued the warning, saying a database must “not simply duplicate information” already submitted through local licensing schemes or held on other Government-approved systems.

A national register of landlords is due to introduced in England later this year under the Renters’ Right Act.

It requires private landlords to register their personal details and individual properties, display unique registration numbers on adverts and pay an annual fee.

The database must not simply duplicate information already submitted.”

In a statement, Propertymark said: “We have long supported the principle of a national landlord and property register to help professional agents and responsible landlords demonstrate compliance and support councils to focus their resources on cases that present the greatest risk.

It should be centrally developed and operated, while allowing local authorities to access information and carry out enforcement.”

But it added: “The database must not simply duplicate information already submitted through local licensing schemes or held on other Government-approved systems, as this risks increasing workload and fees without necessarily improving standards.

“The interaction between the database, unique identifiers, property advertising, and the new Landlord Ombudsman must be clearly understood, and the legislation and supporting technology must be workable and based on evidence from those who will use it.”

Sufficient resources

It went on to call for sufficient resources to be made available to ensure the scheme can be enforced properly.

“The database must also support, rather than replace, effective local enforcement. Landlords who deliberately operate outside the law may not register at all or could submit false documents,” it said.

“Councils will still need sufficient staff, resources and investigatory capacity to identify them.

“At the same time, enforcement should help landlords and agents who are actively trying to comply and correct genuine mistakes, while stronger penalties can be issued against deliberate and repeated breaches.”