Housing minister Brandon Lewis this week vowed to crack down on rogue landlords.
Speaking at the RESI conference held at the Celtic Manor resort in Newport, Wales, Lewis said the government was committed to “driving rogue landlords out of business”, without harming the increased appetite for the buy-to-let market.
Lewis told the conference: “We will crack down on rogue landlords and drive them out of business.
“But we will never jeopardise the new appetite for investment in this sector with red tape and unnecessary regulation.
“That would simply undo the good work of the last five years – a journey that has taken this country from the brink of bankruptcy to the fastest growing advanced economy in the world.
“Businesses are growing, more people are in work than ever before, and living standards are rising. Our plans for devolution will give cities, towns and counties across the country the power to galvanise their local economies, deliver more homes, and provide a better business environment.”
Lewis’ comments follow a government consultation and technical discussion paper which focussed on targeting rogue landlords and letting agents in the private rented sector.
During the consultation the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health said a “fundamental review of the entire legislative framework” was required to tackle the issue.
In his response to the consultation, Mayor of London Boris Johnson called on the government to force portals to carry information about specific letting agent fees.
I think I need some of what Mr Lewis is taking. Particularly with the comment about red tape and unnecessary regulation. In recent years we have had gas safety, deposit protection with chaos caused by poorly worded legislation. We have property licensing where some councils have gone beyond the intention of the legislation with whole borough licensing such as Rogue Council Croydon and others. Change in rules for possession. I personally have serious concerns about the integrity of some Councils to act in a reasonable and proper way at times, particularly if it involves them having to take responsibility for a tenant who is being evicted. We have the latest RED TAPE with immigration checks which Government said would be a light touch approach and already see penalties are increasing. Clearly poorly drafted rules on Smoke and CO alarms (thank goodness we at least have the Lords as a check). The overwhelming majority of landlords are good and responsible but are being defamed by the constant use of the term Rogue Landlords shouted out by central and local government as a favorite term; when what they really mean is CRIMINAL LANDLORDS. The term is used so often that the public now associate rogue and landlord to mean every landlord.
I am not against criminal landlords being outed, indeed I support it wholeheartedly . I support the need to keep tenants safe but expect them to take reasonable responsibility for themselves. I support councils enforcing rules on dangerous situations, I support deposit protection but not all the tight rules that have tripped up innocent and well meaning property owners. I do not agree with powers given to PRIVATE WATER COMPANIES, I object to being potentially responsible for water rates bill on criminal tenants who steal water services. I do not support being charged rates on empty property so council can screw more money out of people and discourage landlords having the opportunity of improving their property without being taxed on doing so. I object to all property having to pay between £500-£1000 per property (AS A TAX) to the council when it is not in a area where there are problems. Particularly when councils and the police have FAILED in their duty to stamp out anti-social acts by the public who may or may not be in the PRS. I object to being held responsible for the failures of Government to have an effective borders control force. I object to landlords NOT being protected from rogue tenants. I object to being taxed on providing additional insulation to keep my tenants warm. I object to being taxed on making minor improvements to my properties that benefit my tenants. I object to paying tax to improving heating standards for my tenants benefit and comfort. I object to the constant onslaught of legislation against good landlords. But most of all I object to the fact all this extra RED TAPE when the true criminal landlords will ignore it anyway!!!!! and we, the good landlords, pay and are burdened particularly when most of the time existing legislation could have been used anyway against the criminal landlords.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Very well said, Will. But how can the Minister not know all this? I’ve heard he takes advice from the likes of ARLA and the RLA….
Looks like we will just have to hope for another deregulation bill after a few years.
Just when I was starting to enjoy working life after the last deregulation bill…..
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
MF, you are of course right and as they say there are none so blind as they who do not see OR as dumb as they who cannot not listen!
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Oh I forgot to mention having to now provide a “How to rent” booklet to new tenants. Sorry Mr Lewis I guess this is not more tape then?
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Excellent post with some excellent points made. Can Mr Lewis please be asked to read it ?! As for what the Minister said I saw nothing about working with councils on the CRIMINALLY insane matter of beds-in-sheds. This must still be going on otherwise we would have heard its eradication shouted from the rooftops by the authorities. It is this flagrant disregard for our laws by so-called landlords (usually relatively recently arrived in this country- as are their tenants) that give the PRS a bad name – much as it had in the days of Rachmann for heaven’s sake. 99% of landlords and agents are probably doing their level best to keep up with and implement the ever-rising tide of legislation which now threatens to sweep away those who have had enough of it. Including me. Enough already. ACTION not just more WORDS is what we need.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Can we have a definition of a Rouge Landlord or a Rouge Letting Agent?
Is this a landlord that over fills a property or a landlord that does not come round and change a light bulb when its out and the tenant complains?
Why can the government or the likes of the ‘Student Union inspired Shelter’ -(credit Robert May) not start to educate tenants along with policing so called rouge agents and landlords?
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Well “smile” I always though of a rogue was a Terry Thomas or Leslie Phillips played type character from a 1950’s Ealing Studios Black & white comedy film. Or do they mean Criminal Landlords here?
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Ahh but are they not under the heading ‘Lovable Rouge?’ 😉
Joking to one side that my point, if they are criminal surely that is a better phrase and also plenty of powers in place to deal with them.
Rouge agents / landlords sounds good but what does it really mean apart from a headline.
And to be honest i would say 99% of agents and landlords do a very good job. Its not that big an issue.
Housing is a much more pressing need and if the government sorted that out as opposed to trying to shifting the blame and responsibility onto the PRS it could all be sorted out easily.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Smile, We are in total agreement I was just trying to trivialize the term ROGUE when what is meant is CRIMINAL LANDLORD. So perhaps hereon those who agree drop the term Rogue landlord and replace it with CRIMINAL Landlord
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register