Professional body backs property portal and wants continued use of selective licensing

Professional body backs property portal and wants continued use of selective licensing

0:02 AM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago 6

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A professional membership body has expressed support for a property portal for landlords but believes it won’t remove the need for selective licensing.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) highlighted the lack of environmental health professionals to enforce housing standards in the PRS and the role played by licencing in providing funding for enforcement.

Dr Henry Dawson from the CIEH gave evidence to MPs at the Committee stage for the Renters Reform Bill.

Deal with information on a reactive basis

Dr Dawson told MPs that a property portal as a source of information could be helpful to landlords.

He said: “Research shows that a lot of landlords tend to deal with the need for information on a reactive basis, when a situation presents itself.

“As most of them are not members of recognised landlord bodies, they are using things such as internet portals, chatrooms and blogs to get information on what is required of them.

He added: “Through local authority licensing, local authorities are getting much better penetration and being brought closer to landlords, and that allows them to provide advice, but landlords in general will tend to use online resources to get information. We would like them to use a single portal that we have quality control over.”

Local areas should have flexibility to employ licensing schemes

Elsewhere in the committee debate, Salford Mayor Paul Dennett urged the government to eliminate the requirement for the secretary of state’s approval for larger selective licensing schemes.

He said: “Selective licensing schemes will inevitably continue to be an important tool for councils to manage and improve the private rented sector properties in their area.

“In our opinion, local areas should have the flexibility to employ selective licensing schemes to meet local need, as we determine that.

“We are calling on the government to amend the Housing Act 2004 to remove the requirement for councils to seek approval for larger selective licensing schemes.”

Experts haven’t got a clue

Mick Roberts, one of Nottingham’s largest landlords helping benefit tenants, criticised the government proposals for a property portal and selective licensing arguing it will add more expenses.

He told Property118: “The role played by licensing, signals the end of cheap rents to tenants.

“These experts haven’t got a clue. They now want us to do the property portal which landlords will need to pay for to be registered plus pay for selective licensing.

“The government and local councils certainly know how to keep rents high and keep supply levels low! What have private tenants done to deserve this?


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Comments

Freda Blogs

12:11 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Why bash us with one hammer when two will do?

Yellard

12:29 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

The government is using a hammer to break a tab of butter. Nearly all the problems in the PRS are at the benefit claimant end of the market. The government has encouraged slum landlords at that end by paying housing benefit /UC on size of property rather than quality. This means slumlandlords make more profit that decent landlords who let to benefit claimants but maintain their properties. The slum landlord can therefore more easily expand their portfolio. Rather than the needless bureaucracy of all properties requiring a licence, rent benefit should be on two scales, with a higher rate for approved local authority lettings that meet the standard. The landlord would have to apply for authority (ie a licence) if they want to let to claimants for the higher rent/rate. Tenants who become claimants after taking a tenancy could also apply for the licence(at a reduced cost).. Over time the difference between the basic rent (size rate) benefit and the higher licenced rate could be progressively widened to make being a slum landlord a non viable business model.

Easy rider

13:55 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Tenants, Local Authorities and the Government already have all the tools they need to force bad landlords to abide by the law.
They choose not to because they are lazy and incompetent.
Instead, they demand more money to do what they are already paid to do. Then, they still don’t do it because they remain lazy and incompetent.

Mick Roberts

15:16 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Freda Blogs at 16/11/2023 - 12:11
Yes, tell u what, two hammers to bash us, why don't they bring a chainsaw out too. Keep hitting us, we'll help u out surely. I've just left this elsewhere which sums this article up too.

I’m biggest Benefit Landlord in Nottingham. Housed more than any other private provider over 26 years. And I am now refusing Benefit tenants.
Do we not think it’s time Shelter & the Govt come ask me why?
So we can tackle the cause?

Oops there it is again, £30,000 fine. That will keep more Landlords in for more supply for cheaper rents, shouldn't it? Great thinking Govt & Gove.

Ooh & if it wasn't bad enough already paying tenants £12,000 for a paperwork error for a VERY NICE HOUSE, but no Selective License, the punishment is now £24,000. Absolute Nuts. Govt, you have now just caused more Landlords to sell & increased rents for good tenants that have done nothing wrong.

Surefire way to become a criminal & go to prison-Become a Landlord. You try & help the homeless & u get fined for it-Why bother?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mick-roberts-landlord-436280ab/

Reluctant Landlord

15:49 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

They want cake and they want to eat it. All your cake. Even if you dont have any. Pure greed.

No cake? Then I will take you to the cleaners. You are an evil landlord. How dare you offer property for rent. You have clearly tricked a tenant into voluntarily contacting you and then entering a contract of their free will.
You must pay.

The government must think all landlords are bloody magicians (while they are the clowns that run the circus!)

David

12:30 PM, 17th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Finally, a professional body for the public sector tells the truth that the principal reason for SL is the fees.

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