National register to protect tenants

The details of private landlords in England could be added to a Government national register in an attempt to protect tenants.

The Government proposes to create the register to offer some protection to the nearly three million people living in private rental accommodation and prevent bad landlords from staying in business.

Any landlords found to be failing to carry out essential repairs or not protecting tenants' deposits could be struck off the register.

The Government also proposes to introduce new legislation that private sector letting agents must follow, particularly as there are currently no professional credentials needed to work as an agent.

Under the plans tenants would also have access to an improved complaints and redress procedure, where they can make formal complaints about a landlord potentially leading to them being taken off the national register if necessary.

Tenants would also be given at least two months' notice before they have to leave their home because the property is being repossessed. Currently people can evicted with less than two weeks' notice if their landlord fails to keep up with their mortgage repayments.

Housing minister Margaret Beckett said: "The proposals we have announced will create a system that retains its attractiveness for those who choose not to buy, but also embraces greater professionalism without creating unnecessary burdens on landlords."

The proposed changes are in response to a study by Julie Rigg of the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York, who published a report on the private rented sector.

In addition to the proposed Government guidelines the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has announced plans to create a licensing scheme for its members, which would include a strict code of practice.

ARLA has welcomed the Government's proposals calling them a "historic shift in thinking".

The Government will run a consultation on the proposals until the end of July giving people the opportunity to comment on the possible changes.

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