Do we need a database of rogue tenants?

Do we need a database of rogue tenants?

13:38 PM, 5th August 2022, About 2 years ago 14

Text Size

Hello everyone, I am going to respond to the government’s White Paper consultation.

Firstly, there appears to be less support for PRS landlords than we had been led to believe the new Bill would offer.

As someone with a small portfolio, and experience of Selective Licensing, we will get less support to deliver safe and habitable homes that the country desperately needs.

Secondly, I might support the idea of having a property portal, that would make it easier for tenants to find out who the rogue landlords are. However, non-rogue landlords should NOT be listed as giving every Tom, Dick and Harry their address/contact details. Landlords need to be also safe!

Thirdly, if a rogue landlord list is mandatory, we MUST also have a database of rogue tenants, mandating the entry of all eligible tenant offenders, including where no CCJ or criminal action ie property has been trashed, landlords verbally abused, landlords are physically threatened etc has been taken and making these tenants publicly visible?

This should be part of the digital Property Portal. Making this tenant data public would support landlord choice and help them in relation to responsible tenants and making rogue tenant housing the responsibility of Local Authorities.

My question to other landlords is: Do we need a database of rogue tenants?

Judith Wordsworth


Share This Article


Comments

John Warnes

20:49 PM, 16th November 2022, About A year ago

As landlord and letting agents - perhaps the best way to deal with rogue tenants and landlords would be to use the CCJ route by way of introducing a fair and transparent way of either party filling against the other using a new streamlined CCJ process specifically for landlord and tenant act related claims (after all it is an act and this would enable better regulation) for a nominal free, as generally whoever would lodge such a claim would usually be owed money and/or damages. This way both landlord and tenant can claim against the other and let the court decide the outcome. This way when we credit reference either a landlord or tenant as part of the onboarding checks it would show-up as either an unsatisfied or satisfied judgement on which an informed decision can be made and the government therefor controls the data and it’s accuracy in a fair and legal way based on physical and factual evidence.

Either that or I’m happy to build such a software database / it’s just the legal regulation and associated hurdles that need navigating by a specialist property solicitor?

Freda Blogs

21:50 PM, 16th November 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by John Warnes at 16/11/2022 - 20:49
As a follow up to my previous post on this, the person I mentioned re the tenant database is Paul Routledge, and he has been on this Forum, originally with the Landlord Referencing logo (there are some old articles on the site), and that name has popped up more recently - without the Landlord Referencing logo - I am assuming (but I don't know) that he is one and the same person. If so, perhaps he could guide the discussion on the regulation, GDPR etc issues.

Now more than ever a rogue tenant database could prove invaluable in tenant selection.

John Warnes

22:06 PM, 16th November 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Freda Blogs at 16/11/2022 - 21:50
Thanks for the information and if Paul Routledge is reading this, then I'd be happy to discuss the resurrection possibilities?

Annie Landlord

16:02 PM, 17th November 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Freda Blogs at 06/08/2022 - 11:53
Paul Routledge set up landlordreferencing.co.uk. I recall he had been horrifically attacked by a tenant with a hammer. If a database of landlords can get through GDPR I don't see why a tenants one would be a problem. Rather, however, than using woolly language like 'rogue' landlords and tenants, perhaps the databases should only include landlords and tenants who have been found guilty through the court process

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now