Campaigners have called on the Government to introduce a national landlord register as evidence shows that local schemes help improve the quality of rented accommodation.
A new analysis by the group Generation Rent has found that councils that require landlords to be licensed take more than twice as much enforcement action as those that don’t have such a requirement.
Government figures show that 32 councils with selective licensing schemes identified an average of 158 unsafe homes each, compared with 63 on average across 200 councils without such schemes during 2019-20.
Local authorities with licensing schemes also go on to resolve a higher proportion of these cases, according to Generation Rent.
The Centre for Public Data (CFPD) estimates that just 7.4% of England’s private rented homes are covered by council licensing schemes. In contrast, 100% of properties in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are required to register.
This allows private renters in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to find out easily online if their landlord is legally allowed to let out their home, while in England the vast majority of renters cannot check their landlord’s credentials.
Councils in England typically need approval from central Government to introduce selective licensing schemes, which cover all private rented homes in designated areas. Fees range from £350 to £900 for a five-year licence. Fees for registration in other nations are much lower, starting at just £70 in Northern Ireland. Rent Smart Wales costs £2.8m a year to cover 218,000 properties.
CFPD suggests that in a national register, economies of scale, and more efficient linkage with other datasets, could keep costs low.
‘In England, you have to register to run a takeaway or work as an art therapist, but anyone can be a landlord – remarkable given how dangerous it is to live in a property with faulty wiring, boilers or mould,’ said Anna Powell-Smith, director of the CFPD.
‘A patchwork of schemes will never give renters the protection they need, and are an inefficient use of council resources. A national register will be cheaper to run and more effective in raising standards.’
Alicia Kennedy, director of Generation Rent, said: ‘Existing licensing schemes have a clear track record of helping councils to identify unsafe homes and bring them up to standard, but the vast majority of private renters are not protected by them.
‘Nationwide landlord registration would give enforcement authorities valuable intelligence about this sector, make it easier to inform tenants of their rights, and prevent criminals from renting out homes in the first place.’
