Landlord Register

[Jon66]

I never thought I would say this, but I'm beginning to think there should be a register of landlords in the PRS and a basic exam of how to be a landlord. As my partner just said, the system needs an anti-fuckwit device. Is it me, am I just becoming more cynical as each year passes, or are some of these people who know so little totally unfit to be landlords?

[jpkeates]

I believe that there should be a register of landlords.
Free of charge (the additional tax take would pay for it) and having no exam or entry requirement.

You'd register personally and record any properties.
Each property and person would have a unique ID which would be mandatory on PI and notices.

That opens up a channel of communication, so that when something is introduced - like EICR or the requirement that an EPC of E or above is mandatory, people can be told about it.
I know a number of (so called) accidental landlords, and they've no idea about the need for an electrical safety test from next April, and it's hard to see how they could ever have become aware of it, to be fair to them.

My feeling is that crooked landlords will always exist and ignore any attempts to register them, but that most poor landlords are simply ignorant of what they're agreeing to do when they let a property.

[Interlaken]

Agree with both of these posts. LOL having organised my EICR checks early electrician has been onto me this morning to get extra consents from tenants to allow entry in the light of yesterday's announcement - what a work up!

[jpucng62]

I also think a register would be a good idea. Then tenants could check if their LL is registered and if not report it - that way local authorities could find all those LLs who fly under the radar and rent out substandard properties.

[theartfullodger]

There already is a landlord register (well, one per local authority) in Scotland, brought in by Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 Part 8. ANYONE can check is property if registered & name & address of landlord for free, and also freely check tribunal decisions against tenants, agents & landlords (so e.g. someone viewing property can check in advance if it's OK & person claiming to be landlord matches the records) and look up to see if landlord has a history of suspect things overturned by tribunal. Etc etc etc etc...

A landlord must be a "Fit & proper" person (but initially self-asserted). Landlords can & have been banned, again public register.

Fees are not bad IMHO, £66 for 3 years plus £13/property, free for HMOs.. See...
https://www.landlordregistrationscot...es-information
(claim against income tax)


In my view another step in cracking down on the crooks and cheats, but clearly not a complete answer to rogues (any more than speed limits preventing loonies speeding...)

Come on Engerland, catch up!

I'm a landlord in both England & Scotland. Some bits of legislation & rules are better in Scotland, some better in England.

[royw]

Meanwhile here on planet Earth... a LL register will of course be paid for by landlords and add a level of beurocracy that does nothing useful and is run by jobsworth idiots. And just like everything else the law abiding will register while the dodgy landlords will carry on exactly as they are. Next step will be an annual check by said jobsworth at further cost to the LL. Be careful what you wish for.

[Jon66]

Meanwhile here on planet Earth... a LL register will of course be paid for by landlords and add a level of beurocracy that does nothing useful and is run by jobsworth idiots. And just like everything else the law abiding will register while the dodgy landlords will carry on exactly as they are. Next step will be an annual check by said jobsworth at further cost to the LL. Be careful what you wish for.

So what alternative form of enforcement is needed because currently we have the legal framework but it isn't being enforced. Some by the LAs, some criminal, but how often are landlords prosecuted?

And this idea of the accidental landlord is fabrication for the most part and an excuse used by people who don't have a clue. If you let your property the rules are the same and you must follow them. Tbh I'm a bit fed up with posters saying 'I didn't know' and ultimately it's the tenants who suffer.

The 6 month notice has really polarised my view on how some of us do our utmost to be fair and 'good' landlords but it doesn't really help when it goes wrong. And then there are the ones flying below the radar and getting away with it.

I'm in it for the long term but I wonder how many will get out after this?

[cuttingman]

A tenant register and basic exam would be good too.

A third party who keeps track records and reviews of tenancies would be great for both tenants and landlords.

[Stew]

Agree with both of these posts. LOL having organised my EICR checks early electrician has been onto me this morning to get extra consents from tenants to allow entry in the light of yesterday's announcement - what a work up!

Agreed

As far as I understand no extra consent is needed, just precautions, sounds like your electrician is just trying to make sure he does not get refused entry at the door wasting his time. The person I use did a covid awareness course and I sent that cert on in advance. I don't think the annoucement yesterday makes any difference to to EICR's CP12's EPC's etc etc

All the best

[Borgie]

Agreed

As far as I understand no extra consent is needed, just precautions, sounds like your electrician is just trying to make sure he does not get refused entry at the door wasting his time. The person I use did a covid awareness course and I sent that cert on in advance. I don't think the annoucement yesterday makes any difference to to EICR's CP12's EPC's etc etc

All the best

This is an issue for one of my mothers tenants. Having been told by the government to stay at home and away from others she does not want anyone else in the house.

[Lots on]

In defence of “ accidental landlords”... sometimes life leads you somewhere you hadn’t intended to go. 7 years ago I had to take the reins of my dad’s two rental properties because he had alzheimers and wasn’t coping, I had power of attorney. I was scared and frankly hated the responsibility. Dad had given me no preparation whatsoever. I came on to this forum, pretty clueless but wanting to learn. Got the occasional dressing down here but persevered. I’m absolutely no authority, but since then I’ve joined the NRLA, done webinars, day courses pre covid, I make sure the properties which my brother and I have since inherited all fully compliant, etc etc. So some people start off accidentally but make the choice to carry on in a professional manner.

[Jon66]

But you could have chosen to sell but you didn't and that is a conscious choice . . .

[Lots on]

Absolutely it was conscious, I can no longer call myself accidental but I had to transition in that situation from having it thrust upon me to owning it. It does take time, there’s a process of educating oneself.

[ATC]

So a register of landlords would have to show you and your brother, although from what you say, the work involved is done by you. I am not enthusiastic for a register of landlords. because next thing you know an infraction on one letting will disallow the landlord on another. In my long experience problems with properties are often caused by tenants unauthorised alterations, whether blocking up vents in the belief it reduces draughts, drying clothes on storage rads causing the fuses to go, hanging too many clothes on the back of doors or any one of hundreds of variants. Supposing you were to let a three bed semi to two couples; and one couple have "a domestic" such that the husband sleeps in the spare room, apart from his wife. Ergo you suddenly have an unlicensed HMO because theoretically there are more than two households. The law needs to protect the landlord from the tenant conduct being such to create an HMO without the landlord's knowledge or consent. This is not being biased or racist or whatever but it is noticeable that a lot of the names on our lists of tenants are Eastern European, and "brothers/cousins/sisters" arrive and stay for long or short periods of time, about which landlords can do very little but whose presence may interest the Local Authority who allege that an HMO is being operated.

[pebblepebble]

Ergo you suddenly have an unlicensed HMO because theoretically there are more than two households. The law needs to protect the landlord from the tenant conduct being such to create an HMO without the landlord's knowledge or consent. This is not being biased or racist or whatever but it is noticeable that a lot of the names on our lists of tenants are Eastern European, and "brothers/cousins/sisters" arrive and stay for long or short periods of time, about which landlords can do very little but whose presence may interest the Local Authority who allege that an HMO is being operated.

I have the situation in my two bed property - tenant and his family moved out and have given the keys to his brother to carry on living there (rent free of course). There are now three men living there (yes Eastern European) and we think now there is also a woman. None will give names. I have no idea who they are and whether this would be a HMO and frankly as there is nothing I can do about it I don't care any more. They have had a S8 but didn't move out so now waiting for my turn in the courts.