Government confirms public access rules for landlord licensing registers

The government claims councils must make licensing registers available to the public but are not required to publish them online.

Across England, councils operate selective licensing schemes and HMO licensing schemes requiring landlords in designated areas to obtain a licence for their rental properties.

The government claim they encourage councils to make licensing registers accessible to the public.

Accessibility requirements

In a written parliamentary question, Labour MP Feryal Clark asked the government to review the rules “to ensure that statutory landlord licensing registers are readily accessible to the public in digital form”.

In response, housing minister Matthew Pennycook said: “Under the Housing Act 2004, local authorities are required to make their licensing registers available for inspection to the public.

“They must also provide a certified copy of their registers (or individual entry/entries from it) to anyone who requests it, subject to the payment of a fee.

“We encourage local authorities to consider accessibility requirements in meeting these duties and to ensure that any fees charged for this are reasonable and proportionate.

“There is no requirement for local authorities to publish their licensing registers. Where they choose to do so, they should consider any interactions with data protection legislation in respect of personal data contained within those registers.

“The government keeps licensing regulations under review.”

Landlord privacy

As previously reported by Property118, many landlords have raised privacy concerns over the PRS Database.

Under the PRS Database, landlords will be required to provide information about their properties, including the address, number of residents and bedrooms, as well as copies of gas, electricity and EPC documents.

The government told Property118 that data will be handled in line with data protection legislation, with further details to be announced in due course.