Rental database must go beyond national landlord directory, NRLA warns
Responding to the Government's announcement on the database, the association said the timetable provided greater certainty but raised concerns about the scope of the system.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has warned that the Government’s new private rented sector (PRS) database risks becoming little more than a national directory unless it is developed as a wider compliance tool.
Responding to the Government’s announcement on the database, the association said the timetable provided greater certainty but raised concerns about the scope of the system.
The NRLA said the database should enable tenants and local authorities to check whether properties meet required standards, while allowing landlords to demonstrate compliance with their obligations.
It also called for existing data to be used to verify compliance and ownership rather than relying solely on landlords uploading documents.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “Whilst the timetable provides some much-needed certainty, we remain concerned that the private rented sector database will become little more than a national directory for councils, missing a major opportunity to deliver a system which will help raise standards across the market.
“Rather than just a list of local landlords, the database should be a genuine compliance tool that helps tenants and councils check that homes meet required standards, while enabling responsible landlords to demonstrate that they are meeting their obligations.
“Instead of simply requiring landlords to upload documents, the database should make intelligent use of existing data to verify compliance and ownership.
“Done properly, it could give tenants confidence, help councils target enforcement and make landlord compliance easier to verify.
“In rushing to launch a stripped-back minimum viable product, the Government risks building the database quickly rather than building it properly.
“There is also a real risk of duplication. In many parts of the country landlords already pay for local licensing schemes which collect much of the same information.
“The Government needs to explain how these systems will work together – compliant landlords should not have to pay twice to provide the same information.”
The NRLA separately welcomed the Government’s decision for HM Revenue and Customs’ Valuation Office (VO) to take responsibility for determining challenges to rent increases.
Beadle added: “We strongly welcome the decision for HM Revenue and Customs’ Valuation Office (VO) to take responsibility for determining challenges to rent increases.
“During the passage of the Renters’ Rights Act, the NRLA repeatedly called for the Government to make use of the VO’s expertise on local market rents to help prevent the Tribunal system becoming overwhelmed.
“A quicker, specialist rent determination service should benefit both tenants and landlords while easing pressure on an already stretched Tribunal system.”
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