Property passports and logbooks have moved a step closer after Government organisations agreed to make reference numbers used to identify homes and streets available for free.
These are currently managed by Government-backed data bodies the Geospatial Commission and GeoPlace and will be made available from July 1st.
The data is known as a unique property reference number (UPRN) and the idea is that this data will eventually be used to link and find the various details of a home such as its energy rating or purchase history.
The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC), which has been working on a property passport for the rental sector over the past few years, is hopeful that the dataset can eventually be used so tenants and local councils can check the health and safety requirements of rental properties.
The new Energy Performance of Buildings Register (EPBR) will use the UPRNs and Theresa Wallace, chair of the TLIC, said the next step is to call for the creation of a central register for gas safety and electrical installation reports that could use the reference numbers.
Wallace told EYE:
“It is a long term project but this was the first part that we need before we can move it forward.
“If you think about a car registration and how you log onto one site and can see if it has a current MOT and insurance certificate, this is done through scraping data in the background, the DVLA site doesn’t hold the data.
“You shouldn’t be able to let a property unless it meets a minimum health and safety standard and the property passport can work in the same way.”
The Home Buying and Selling Group, made up of industry executives working with the Government on reforming the property market, is also following the opening of the UPRN data.
Its chair Kate Faulkner told EYE that it was looking at UPRNs as one way to develop a logbook in the sales market to provide more upfront information and transaction history for each property.
The concept of UPRN’s were in discussion 20+ years ago and I was promoting the vision of a property logbook back then. The technology has definitely now caught up and the industry needs this to develop and succeed. A car’s registration number doesn’t just have MOT and Insurance certificate, it has history, ownership, and leads to the legitimacy of that ownership (licence, penalty points or prohibition). It’s been a long time coming, although there is still a long way to go. It can and should considerably help “change of ownership” or more correctly stated in property “the transfer of title”.
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Quite agree…. this will also accelerate the development of Block Chain contracts to facilitate “transfer of title”
It will be a short step for Gen Z and those following on to come to terms with purchasing a string of code…. that happens to have some Bricks and Mortar attached to it?
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Stephen – Property logbooks are here. There are at least 4 companies now developing them and we have been working together under the auspices of the MHCLG’s Home Buying & Selling Group to standardise and agree an approach to rolling out accredited and templated services to agents, conveyancers and owners. Watch this space. Nigel Walley MD Chimni.
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What’s needed are ” TENANT Passports ” !!!
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Tenant passports are more important ever since the tenant fee ban in place.
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We do need a ‘bad tenant’ database. Landlord Referencing Service did offer a tenant database which was updated by landlords. I joined quite a few years ago when I seemed to have a spate of bad tenants, and I loaded their details and what they had done e.g. arrears, refusal to leave, damage, noise nuisance, etc, all supported by documentation, of course.
I don’t know if it’s still active. But if it is, unfortunately, I will use it again very soon!
I have bent over backwards to help my tenant while he waits for his tax rebate and SEISS money, and I know he’s worked throughout. He’s lied and tried to avoid communication. Now 3 months arrears and no doubt many more months before he will leave.
Apparently, I don’t have to pay my mortgage, so he doesn’t need to pay his rent!
I am angry at being taken for a fool!
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See our recent post on our facebook, the Govt have effectively sequestrated private property, instead of paying the tenants rent – like Spain did.
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