Market News
Government plans for more regulation under attack
03/03/2010
Government plans for the private rented sector have been shot down in flames by a lettings professional.
David Plaister, managing director of landlords’ property management firm Let Assured UK, said the plans were completely unrealistic.
“There is a huge housing gap in Britain which Government expects private landlords to fill. The housing minister’s proposals are unhelpful to that aim and completely unrealistic.”
Housing minister John Healey has just published the Government’s policy statement, ‘The Private Rented Sector: Professionalism and Quality: consultation responses and next steps’.
Proposals include tightening up Houses in Multiple Occupation legislation, so that properties converted into homes for three sharers will need planning permission and licensing. Also proposed is a ‘Trip Adviser’ style website where tenants can rate and slate landlords and properties, and a compulsory registration scheme for landlords. But Plaister said: “I do not believe for one second that providing tenants with a feedback website where they can post comments, which may or may not be true, about their landlords will improve the quality of rented accommodation in the UK.
“Landlords will also be expected to pay to appear on a register that declares their name and the addresses of all their rental properties, but it will be a nightmare to administer and will have the effect of driving the rogue operators underground.
“These proposals, if implemented, will only create another unnecessary tier of regulation.”