National Landlord Registration is coming!

It has been announced today that a new England wide scheme is being launched – “Rent Smart England”.

From the details in the press release, Private landlords will be forced by law to bring their properties up to a set of national standards for the first time under plans to be unveiled in the government’s levelling-up strategy. Michael Gove, the housing secretary, will announce legislation that will require landlords to refit about 800,000 properties that don’t meet requirements to be “safe, warm and in a good state of repair”. The law will also introduce a register that anyone renting a house must join, with rogue landlords being ejected from the list.

While speculative at this stage, we feel it is likely the scheme will be modelled on the Welsh “Rent Smart Wales” scheme, and as such will include mandatory testing of landlords to ensure they are aware of their duties as landlords, as well registration (licensing) of all landlords. This landlord registration will be separate from your obligations to license properties under the Housing Act 2004, however it is likely the local authority will any powers available to ensure landlords are members of Rent Smart Wales when granting licenses.

We will update you with more information as it becomes available.

There is more information at this link Times Article [paywalled].

As always we will work to keep you informed of what you will need to do to remain legally compliant.