New landlord database likely to improve rental sector, says legal expert

Landlords should welcome the National Residential Landlords Association’s discussions with the government over the new landlord database.

That’s the view of Phil Turtle of Landlord Licensing and Defence.

He says the database could be “a game changer” for landlords, offering a more effective way to monitor the private rental sector and potentially ending the need for selective licensing schemes.

He says the NRLA should back his call for the government to adopt a property licensing model like Jersey's where a rental property licence costs just £60 for two years and all the necessary landlord documents are checked to ensure compliance with rules and laws.

This would mean that landlords in England and Wales would need to provide valid Gas Safety certificates, detailed floor plans and other required documentation to obtain a licence.

Turtle comments: "A database that records all legally required documentation makes it harder for criminal landlords to operate, eliminating the need for selective licensing. Most landlord properties are not inspected under the current scheme, and landlords face hefty fines for minor issues.

"Councils often overstep their authority, enforcing their own rules rather than the law. Reports from the Housing Ombudsman show that councils do not regularly inspect or care for their own properties."

He continues: "Jersey's scheme offers better value, checking documents every two years, which benefits tenants. The scheme applies to every rental property without any unnecessary complications.

"In contrast, selective licensing fees in England are exorbitant, for example, in Reading a license costs £1,000, Newport £730, Lambeth £923, Haringey £642 and Ealing £750.

"Jersey manages to cover every property on the island for just £60, with document checks every two years instead of five. What are councils in England doing charging so much?"

Turtle is calling for the scrapping of selective licensing in favour of the Jersey model under the Labour government's proposed Renters' Rights Bill.

He continues: "There is no justification for any selective licence to cost more than £60 for two years. If it does, it's either a money-raising scheme for the council or a sign of council inefficiency. Councils are simply exploiting landlords, but the Labour government has an opportunity to support both landlords and tenants with the Renters' Rights Bill and the proposed landlord database.

"While not every landlord may agree, we should at least see the end of councils providing a costly and ineffective service that ultimately leads to higher rents for tenants. Labour must support this change."

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