New regulations for private landlords axed

Housing minister Grant Shapps promises ‘no more red tape’ as the new government abandons plans to introduce a national register for landlords.

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by Tony Bonsignore on Jun 10, 2010 at 15:27

New regulations for private landlords axed

Plans to introduce a national register for private landlords and regulate managing and lettings agents have been scrapped, housing minister Grant Shapps announced today.

Labour proposed the new regulations last year as part of a clampdown on rogue landlords, and following the Rugg Review of the private rented sector. The last government had also planned to introduce compulsory written tenancy agreements.

In a statement to parliament today Shapps said the government was planning no further regulation of the private rented sector as it was ‘already governed by a well established legal framework.’

Instead he urged councils to use their existing powers, which include the ability to force landlords to take action to rectify hazards in their property and discretionary licensing powers to tackle areas blighted by poorly managed privately rented stock.

Where landlords resist making the necessary improvements, councils can also either make and charge for the work needed or prohibit use of the affected parts of the property.

‘With the vast majority of England's three million private tenants happy with the service they receive, I am satisfied that the current system strikes the right balance between the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords,’ Shapps said.

‘So today I make a promise to good landlords across the country: the government has no plans to create any burdensome red tape and bureaucracy so you are able to continue providing a service to your tenants.

‘But for the bad landlords, I am putting councils on alert to use the range of powers already at their disposal to make sure tenants are properly protected.’

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6 comments so far. Why not have your say?

At last someone is talking less regulations. I welcome that.

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Landlords are holding local communties to ransome forcing up property values and snapping up much needed family homes . They destroy the hopes and dreams of young families and first time buyers. They suck the life out of our students and their parents. They have join the other modern day land barrons in sucking the life out of the working mans wage. Now the conservatives are back in power they are looking after their own. Labour failed in identifying and dealing with this problem that keeps millions in poverty!! We need to change our tax system from one that penalises the worker and saver to one thats taxes the free holder!! LVT !! You created the credit crunch!! Start by making the land lord pay the concil tax even on student properties!!! Read some books on this subject. This has been denied to the public!!!

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Russel Duke

You must be about 18years old. You clearly are not old enough to remember 1957 when we had Controlled Rents resulting in nothing at all being available to rent and a housing stock that was in total disrepair.

I would point out that there are many more bad tenants than landlords.

If you do not make it possible for landlords to earn money they wont provide accommodation. Not all Landlords earn many lose remember the 2 teachers in Kent who amassed a portfolio 200 buy to lets well they went broke last week.

YOU ARE A TWERP

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No increase in regulation of landlords is good news for housing supply in the Private Rented Sector, and ultimately good news for tenants therefore.

Sadly buried in the statement by Grant Shapps was the very bad news that the government has also scrapped plans to regulate letting agents. This is a missed opportunity to weed out the rogue agents who rip off landlords and tenants alike.

What other sector today sees private companies allowed to handle hundreds of thousands of pounds of client funds on a daily basis, with absolutely no regulation, oversight, or client money protection?

This is lazy government.

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Actually there should be a blacklist register of tenants who make a habit of not paying the rent or trashing places . Friends have had terrible difficulties with rogue tenants who know the law back to front and can manage to live for months without paying rent while my friends have tried to evict them .

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Anonymous 3 needed this 'off the record'

Jul 22, 2010 at 13:32

Landlords/agents alike... the public will finally have a chance to really have their say...

Its completely free.....

www.rateorhateyourlandlord.com

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