Landlord Action calls for a Rogue Tenant List

Landlord Action calls for a Rogue Tenant List

16:41 PM, 4th January 2016, About 8 years ago 29

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Paul Shamplina

Paul Shamplina

The Housing and Planning Bill is currently making its way through Parliament following a Government consultation on ‘Tackling rogue landlords and improving the private rental sector’. They are proposing a blacklist of persistent rogue landlords and letting agents. In response, Paul Shamplina, Founder of Landlord Action, is calling for a blacklist of persistent rogue tenants to be made public.

Some of the consultation’s key discussion points in tackling the worst offenders within the private rental sector include, introducing banning orders and civil penalties of up for £5,000 for rogue landlords, speeding up repossessions of abandoned properties and producing a rogue landlord/letting agent blacklist. It is currently suggested the blacklist of rogue landlords and agents would be available to local authorities and central Government, enabling them to keep track of those who had committed offences.

Paul Shamplina, who was part of this consultation, is calling for the Government to show greater equality and more openness. He argues that if there is going to be a list of rogue landlords and letting agents then it should also include agents that have multiple money judgements against them by landlords for non-payment of rent. Mr Shamplina believes that all associations and redress schemes within the PRS should also put their banned members on this list. He thinks that the list should include rogue tenants and, most importantly, all the information should be made public.

He explains “We are constantly hearing about ‘rogue landlords and agents’. But to address issues in the private rental sector, we should also consider ‘rogue tenants’. Last year there were 161,000 possession claims issued in England and Wales. At present, there is no central database where possession orders with money claims are registered, as the courts do not recognise possession claims with arrears as a County Court Judgement. If they did, this information would show up on tenant referencing. At present, a rogue tenant can move from property to property running up rent arrears and it does not show up on referencing unless the landlord goes to additional expense of trying to enforce the money order. If we are to protect landlords at pre-let stage, in the same way we wish to protect tenants, this should also be made available.”

Mr Shamplina continues “The Government is clearly committed to improving standards in the PRS. One of the greatest challenges is finding a balance between supporting good landlords and agents, whilst cracking down on criminal activity without burdening the sector with unnecessary, expensive regulation. I believe that one of the best ways to do this is by giving the consumer (landlords and tenants) access to information. Allowing them to have freedom of choice about who they rent from.”

92% of respondents to the Government survey are agreement that there should be a blacklist of persistent rogue landlords and letting agents. Mr Shamplina says making the information available to the wider public would support those reputable landlords and agents and act as an effective deterrent.

Contact Landlord Action

Specialists in tenant eviction and debt collection. Regulated by The Law Society.


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Comments

Gary Dully

3:30 AM, 5th January 2016, About 8 years ago

Rogue tenants should certainly be on a database and as for repossession claims not being registered, it is sickening.

Rogue tenants far outweigh the costs of decent tenants and are a massive drain on resources.

They should introduce a tenants license scheme and grant disqualification for fraud, misrepresentation, drug abuse and vandalism.

John MacAlevey

9:24 AM, 5th January 2016, About 8 years ago

Forget ASBO`s..how about DNR..`Do Not Rent`

Andrea Collins

10:25 AM, 5th January 2016, About 8 years ago

I have been using Tenant Referencing UK (aka Landlord Referencing UK) for 3 years now, they have been going for 7 years now and offer landlord and letting agents a 'Tenant History Report'. This is data that they hold on your tenants via previous landlords and letting agents about both their good and bad tenants. It puts you in contact with the person who uploaded the information so you can get a REAL reference, including rent arrears, property damage, and what they are like as tenants.

The more landlords and letting agents that join the team Tenant Referencing UK (which is free) and reference or upload current tenants the more tenant histories are created. They now over 400,000 tenants on their database. Also it also helps you as uploading applicant tenants also prevents you from taking tenants making multiple tenancy applications in order to use it for subletting, cannabis farms and prostitution rings.

The answer already exists.

TheMaluka

10:44 AM, 5th January 2016, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Andrea Collins" at "05/01/2016 - 10:25":

Andrea you stole my thunder. I have been using Tenant Referencing (http://www.landlordreferencing.co.uk/) for many years, the best referencing in town.

Mandy Thomson

11:04 AM, 5th January 2016, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "John MacAlevey" at "05/01/2016 - 09:24":

The problem is they've got to live somewhere, and who's going to house them? Oh yes, that's right, those BTL parasites ("parasite" being the new term for "landlord" according to another thread on this site...) can house them and moreover, pick up the tab and save the government and local authorities money...

Chloe Kerr

11:04 AM, 5th January 2016, About 8 years ago

Hi Andrea, Thank-you for very much for your recommendation and on-going support over the years.

You are correct the answer does already exist through Tenant Referencing UK (http://www.landlordreferencing.co.uk)
We are committed to provide the best practise referencing for both landlords and letting agents by supplying them with the best tools to do so.

We offer our Tenant History Reports which helps protect landlords and letting agents from taking someone else's rogue.
As you said Andrea, the data has been built up over 7 years and we now have a database well of over 400,000 tenants which increases everyday, as with our new systems every time a member takes a financial report with us from Equifax the tenants rental history is automatically uploaded; creating them a tenant history.
Some with rent arrears and property damage costs totalling over £10,000, and others with a perfect rental history.
It really is a no where to run no where to hide system now in stopping rogue tenants from moving around, whilst creating tenant histories along side financial histories for good tenants.

We are sure this is an over site as we even feature in Paul's book as the best company to reference prospective tenants through as we can provide our unique Tenant History Reports.

http://www.landlordreferencing.co.uk

Ian Ringrose

11:05 AM, 5th January 2016, About 8 years ago

I was just about to post about http://www.landlordreferencing.co.uk and its database that lists past landlords for lots of tenants; this makes it harder for a tenant to “forget” to list a past landlord on their application form. But others have got there first.

But the 2nd part of my post is still useful…..

Taking up references from the ALL the landlords the person had over the last 5 years will find most issues. A standard credit check lists address someone “is linked to” (had bank statement sent to etc), the Land Registry for a small charge will tell you the owner of a property.

John MacAlevey

11:38 AM, 5th January 2016, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mandy Thomson" at "05/01/2016 - 11:04":

Mandy,

You are correct..`they have to live somewhere` but if the PRS refuses to assist local authorities with THEIR problem the LC`s will have to listen & be equitable to good landlords. LC`s have a legal duty to house..at some point..whereas I do not.

TheMaluka

11:52 AM, 5th January 2016, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mandy Thomson" at "05/01/2016 - 11:04":

Mandy, if read Councillor Devine's email carefully you will find we are not just parasites but "Snivelling Parasites". It's nice to be valued members of society.

No landlord should have to house bad tenants, anyone guilty of antisocial behaviour should forgo the right to be housed and, after 30 years bitter experience as a landlord, that includes the children. Hard maybe but some people will only learn the hard way.

Bad tenants can be, and often are, housed at Her Majesty's pleasure.

Mandy Thomson

12:02 PM, 5th January 2016, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "John MacAlevey" at "05/01/2016 - 11:38":

You're absolutely correct, John. However, I've seen a particular LA pleading DESPERATELY with landlords (parasites) to please house their homeless tenants, then on the other hand treat landlords more like criminals than mere parasites...

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