Sadiq Khan launches Property Licence Checker for tenants

Sadiq Khan launches Property Licence Checker for tenants

9:41 AM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago 14

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The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has launched a new online tool to search if a landlord has licensed a rental property and announcing tenants could be owed thousands of pounds in rent repayments if their landlord has failed to obtain the correct licence.

If a landlord does not hold the correct property licence, they may be subject to enforcement action from the local council, but the Mayor says implications for London tenants are also significant: Section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notices are invalidated, and they may be entitled to a Rent Repayment Order requiring a landlord to pay back up to 12 months’ rent. The current average rent in London is around £1,425 per month, meaning a year’s worth of repaid rent would come to more than £17,000.

The Checker will also provide intelligence to help boroughs target their enforcement against landlords especially those who have failed to register licences for larger HMOs, where some of the poorest property conditions can be found in London.

Sadiq Khan said: “With nearly a fifth of London’s private rented accommodation not meeting basic standards, it is vital that every privately rented property is licensed so landlords can be held to account for the conditions their tenants live in.

“My new Property Licence Checker is a key part of my work to redress the imbalance of power that currently exists in the London private rented sector. London’s renters deserve to live in safe, secure, comfortable accommodation, whilst councils need the tools to deal with rogue operators.

“That’s why I’m calling on the Government to give City Hall the power to consider and approve new licensing schemes in London. This would help create more consistency in property licensing across London, creating a more transparent system for landlords and better protections for London’s private renters, who time and again are treated as an afterthought by ministers.”


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Comments

david porter

10:21 AM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago

London local councils and housing assiciation landlords will also have to comply?
That will be exciting.

Judith Wordsworth

10:26 AM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Yet another reason to get of of rentals

Judith Wordsworth

10:27 AM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by david porter at 19/11/2020 - 10:21
Of course it won't apply to social landlords, same as the new ELectrical Safety requirements don't.

david porter

10:36 AM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago

if you contact you local mp and point out that it should apply to councils and housing associations perhaps it will. So many councils are close to filing section 114 this would be just totally non viable.

juliet bonnet

10:44 AM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by david porter at 19/11/2020 - 10:21
Does this apply only to HMO properties for now?

Whiteskifreak Surrey

11:10 AM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by juliet bonnet at 19/11/2020 - 10:44
I do not think so. In Newham the licence is compulsory for every property (we must have it for a flat). I cannot imagine that tenants in these flats will be deprived from having an opportunity to fleece their landlords from a few thousands in the time of national two crises.

NewYorkie

14:22 PM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago

You Khan't stop violent crime and murder, but you Khan appeal to your voters (renters) by going after those greedy landlords. What a lightweight waste of time and space this man is!

Judith Wordsworth

15:02 PM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by juliet bonnet at 19/11/2020 - 10:44Depends on which London Borough the property is in but I think all HMO's have to be registered. But not 100% sure

TrevL

15:32 PM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 19/11/2020 - 14:22
I think thats the root of a lot of the anti-landlord moves you see in government at the moment. The simple fact is that one landlord equals, in most cases, several tennants, who all want to own their own houses.

At the end of the day, with every additional landlord, you get an exponensial increase in tennants......so expect to see politians chasing the tennant vote.

Gone are the days that private renting was a nice way to earn money, expect constant attack and regulation.....and dwindling profits/income....don't overleaverage, it will kill you.

Lomondhomes

15:51 PM, 19th November 2020, About 3 years ago

This, the council in charge of Granville Tower?

When is a register being developed for tenants so landlords can check up and comment on them?

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