Government puts its case for licensing landlords

The Government set out yesterday their plans for the Private Rented Sector.

In their words:

"A major new package of measures to strengthen consumer protections for tenants living in private rented accommodation is being announced today by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett.

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The Government wants to improve the quality of the private rented sector, by increasing professionalism, driving out bad landlords, and strengthening protections for tenants affected by repossessions."

A summary from the Telegraph is given below. In the spirit of freedom of speech we at Property Hawk believe that others should be given the chance to put their side of the arguement. We have added in our ODD NOTE about what the proposals actually mean.

The national register of landlords would be run by an independent organisation (ANOTHER COSTLY BUREAUCRACY - CAN WE AFFORD IT DO WE NEED IT) and landlords would have to register annually for a "nominal" fee (AT LEAST £50 - SO WE NEED TO REGISTER EACH YEAR TO LET OUT OUR OWN PROPERTY - WHY )to cover the administration costs,(WHY DO LANDLORDS HAVE TO PAY TO BE INCLUDED ON A POINTLESS LIST THAT WE DONT WANT) the Department for Communities & Local Government (CLG) said in a statement.

The register would be "light-touch" (POINTLESS) and would be web-based "to ensure that it does not become an unnecessary burden on the market". (UNDERMINE CIVIL LIBERTIES - IF I RENT OUT MY PROPERTY WHY DOES THE WHOLE WORLD NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT)

Landlords would need to include their registration number on all tenancy agreements (SO LANDLORDS PUT A NUMBER ON A TENANCY AGREEMENT, HOW DOES THAT DRIVE UP STANDARDS )and could be removed from the register for persistent poor performance, such as failing to carry out essential repairs, or not protecting tenants' deposits,( LEGISLATION ALREADY EXIST THAT PROTECT TENANTS FROM THIS - DO THEY NOT READ THEIR OWN LEGISLATION) the CLG said.

The department added: "To ensure this does not become an unnecessary burden (SO THEY ADMIT IT WILL BE A BURDEN THEN) on the market the register will be web-based and will require minimal information such as the name of landlord, their address and address of the property being let. (HOW WILL THAT DRIVE UP STANDARDS - LAUGHABLE!)

"Introducing a light-touch national register of every private landlord in England [would] increase protection for both vulnerable tenants and good landlords." (HOW WILL IT PROTECT GOOD LANDLORDS. SO GOOD LANDLORDS PAY TO HAVE THEIR NAME ON A LIST THAT THEY DO NOT WANT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THEMSELVES! I'M SORRY THERE IS NO LOGIC THERE WHATS SO EVER!)

It also wants an improved complaints and redress procedure for tenants. The CLG said: "For the first time, the Government will look to set up a mechanism whereby tenants are able to register official complaints about substandard landlords, and if these complaints are substantial and proven then landlords may be removed from the national register." (WHO IS GOING TO ADMINISTER THIS - OH ANOTHER POINTLESS & COSTLY BUREAUCRACY THAT WILL HAVE TO BE PAID FOR OUT OF THE LANDLORD LICENCE - LOOKS LIKE ITS GOING TO COST A LOT MORE THAN £50 PA. OH BY THE WAY CAN'T TENANTS REFUSE TO PAY RENT IF THEY ARE NOT HAPPY WITH STANDARDS AND ULTIMATELY MOVE OUT. ISN'T THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE FORM OF CONTROL 'REGULATION' OF ALL!)

The Government's consultation on the proposals will close on July 31.

DEAR MARGARET - YOU CLEARLY HAVE NOT GIVEN THIS SUBJECT ANY REAL THOUGHT AT ALL. VERY POOR EFFORT. PLEASE DO AGAIN.

MARK: 2 OUT OF 10 FAIL

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