Database of rogue landlords and agents coming this year

The changes for landlords and letting agents are starting early on in 2017!

It has been confirmed that a database of rogue landlords and letting agents will be introduced on October 1st.

The database has already come under heavy criticism, as currently it will only be accessible to local and central government bodies, not to members of the public or other agents.

The database will include information on landlords who have been served with a banning order, convicted of a banning order offence, or have received two or more civil penalties. There is ongoing consultations as to which criminal offences should be regarded as banning order offences and will therefore be included on the database.

The database will also include details of any letting agents who persist in charging fees to tenants after the new regulations banning this come into force. It was also suggested that agents to continue to changes fees after the ban has been brought onto action could be criminalised.

In addition to the database confirmation, there is further spotlight on the tenant fee ban, with two backbench Labour MP’s in Wales – Jenny Rathbone and Mike Hedges applying to launch a ballot which if successful will allow them to propose a Bill to ban the fees in Wales.