The Government has launched a consultation on proposals to open up its rogue landlord database to the public.

Introduced in April 2018, the database records landlords and property agents who have been convicted of housing, immigration and other criminal offences.

It is used as an enforcement tool by local authorities. However, in October 2018 the Prime Minister committed to opening up access to the database to tenants.

‘We want to ensure that the database of rogue landlords and property agents is a useful tool for tenants and local authorities and therefore we are also considering who has access to the database and the scope of offences to be included on the database,’ the consultation says.

‘The aim is to provide a more comprehensive range of information to assist existing and prospective tenants in making an informed choice about who to rent from.’

The consultation closes 12 October, 2019.