As well as seeking views on widening access to the database to allow tenants and prospective tenants access, the Government were also seeking views on expanding the scope of offences and infractions which could lead to entries on the database.
The database of rogue landlords and property agents was introduced in April 2018 which is targeted at only the most serious and prolific criminals, who are convicted of the limited range of banning order offences. The database is an enforcement tool available to local authorities, except in certain circumstances where anonymised, aggregated data can be requested by the public.
In October 2018 the Prime Minister committed to opening up access to information on the database of rogue landlords and property agents to tenants.
Summary of the response:
- To widen access to the Database to potential tenants, current tenants, landlords, membership organisations and lettings agents in order to make informed decisions in their respected fields or situations.
- To widen the scope of the Database by including information such as if a landlord or letting agent fails a fit and proper person test, isissued with an Improvement Notice or has been expelled from a redress scheme.
- In terms of selective licensing, ARLA Propertymark believes that only in certain circumstances should a landlord or agent who has had a property licence refused or revoked should be included on the Database as it should only apply where there has been a serious breach of licence or a repeated offence.
- Local authorities should not have access to information for a longer period than the wider public as the Database must be open and transparent to all and access should remain equal.
