Sadiq Khan calls for a national rogue landlord database

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is calling for a national rogue landlord database – after revealing that half a million tenants in the capital have accessed the Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker and Property Licence Checker.

According to the mayor, new figures show the Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker has been used 388,000 times since 2017.

And the Property Licence Checker, launched in November 2020, has been accessed 125,000 times.

The checkers have been viewed 128,000 times in the last year alone as many of London’s renters grapple with soaring rents and – the mayor says – ‘poor standards’.

6,000 Londoners have reported concerns

Mr Khan points out that 6,000 Londoners have now reported concerns about their rental property through the mayor’s ‘Report a Rogue’ tool.

Now he wants the Government to follow his lead and come good on its promise to roll out a National Rogue Landlord Database.

The Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker is a unique database that ‘names and shames’ landlords and lettings agents who have been successfully prosecuted or have faced civil enforcement action for housing offences.

The Property Licence Checker allows Londoners to find out if their rental property is properly licenced with both platforms enabling renters to make informed decisions about who they rent from.

‘Cracking down on rogue landlords’

Mr Khan said: “I’m determined to continue standing up for London’s renters by cracking down on rogue landlords.

“London’s 2.6m private renters deserve a decent home at an affordable price, let from a fair and honest landlord.

“The fact that my online tools to root out unscrupulous behaviour of landlords have been used hundreds of thousands of times is a sad indictment of the state of the London rental sector.”

‘Tools to help avoid dodgy landlords’

He added: “However, I am pleased to see tenants using these tools to help them avoid dodgy landlords and to stand up for themselves when they are being mistreated or misled.”

David Beach, the director of Enforcement at Waltham Forest, said: “The private rented sector is incredibly important in Waltham Forest.

“We work to ensure that the thousands of residents who rent from private landlords are living in homes that are properly maintained and free from significant building hazards.”

‘Mayor’s Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker’

He added: “Our private sector housing and licensing officers make routine use of the mayor’s Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker in their work.

“If we are to continue building a better London for everyone, it’s essential that we continue to stand up for and empower renters.

“We’re doing everything we can in London, but we also need the Government to step up.

“This must include creating the long-promised National Rogue Landlord database, properly funding borough enforcement teams and increasing the fines for landlords who break the rules.”