Calls for rogue tenant blacklist
Landlord Action the tenant eviction specialist is calling for a list to be drawn up similar to that drawn up by the government for persistent rogue landlords and letting agents, it is currently suggested the blacklist of rogue landlords and agents would be available to local authorities and central government, enabling them to keep track of those who had committed offences.
According to a recent blog on their site the founder of Landlord Action, Paul Shamplina is calling on the government to show greater equality by including rogue tenants and agents with multiple money judgements against them by landlords for non-payment of rent. He also believes that all associations and redress schemes within the private rental sector should also put their banned members on this list and that all the information should be made public.
In the article he explains “We are constantly hearing about ‘rogue landlords and agents’. But to address issues in the private rental sector, we should also consider ‘rogue tenants’. Last year there were 161,000 possession claims issued in England and Wales. At present, there is no central database where possession orders with money claims are registered, as the courts do not recognise possession claims with arrears as a County Court Judgement. If they did, this information would show up on tenant referencing. At present, a rogue tenant can move from property to property running up rent arrears and it does not show up on referencing unless the landlord goes to additional expense of trying to enforce the money order. If we are to protect landlords at pre-let stage, in the same way we wish to protect tenants, this should also be made available.”
Mr Shamplina continues “The Government is clearly committed to improving standards in the PRS. One of the greatest challenges is finding a balance between supporting good landlords and agents, whilst cracking down on criminal activity without burdening the sector with unnecessary, expensive regulation. I believe that one of the best ways to do this is by giving the consumer (landlords and tenants) access to information. Allowing them to have freedom of choice about who they rent from.”
Landlord Action website click here
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