Private rented database ‘won’t work unless done properly’

The Government’s plans for a database of private rented properties will provide little help to tenants unless the informatoin within them provides meaningful information, says National Residential Landlords Association’s boss Ben Beadle (pictured). He made the comments at The Negotiator Conference on Friday.

The warning comes as the Renters’ Rights Bill sets out to establish a database of all private rented properties and landlords in England.

Whilst ministers pledge that it will give assurances to tenants, no detail has been provided about the exact types of information that will be included in the database.

Beadle says responsible landlords need to be able to demonstrate compliance with all their obligations, whilst tenants must be empowered to identify homes and landlords that meet all required standards.

Fully digitised

At a minimum, gas and electricity safety certificates should be fully digitised so they can be easily uploaded onto the database, alongside already digitised Energy Performance Certificates.

He adds that the database should also include a signed declaration by a landlord which confirms that a property meets the requirements of the planned decent homes standard for the sector.

Without this essential information, Beadle says, the database will fail to help tenants determine whether properties are safe and secure. This outcome will only undermine its intended purpose.

It would be a travesty if the database simply became a bureaucratic list.”

Beadle added that: “The database of private rented properties must go beyond a basic directory.

“It needs to provide tenants with clear, meaningful information designed to empower informed decisions on their next home. This will help tenants identify the vast majority of homes that are safe, secure and well-managed by responsible landlords.

“It would be a travesty if the database simply became a bureaucratic list of homes and landlords with little else besides.”