National housing body would do little to tackle crooks

26 Jun 2019 03:21 PM

A new survey by Citizens Advice claims the PRS is suffering from ‘weak regulation’, and has asked for a national housing body for private renting to set standards.

Under the charity’s proposals the body would create a home “MOT” and set a “fit-and-proper-person” test for landlords as well as standardising rental contracts.

Its report ‘Getting the House in Order’ claims ‘many landlords don’t know or understand their legal obligations’, with renters either unaware of their rights or feeling they are unable to enforce them.

The RLA argues it is not the regulations that are weak, but enforcement and believes such a body is unnecessary, with a raft of laws protecting tenants already in existence.

David Smith, RLA policy director yesterday said:

“There are already well over 150 laws containing 400 regulations affecting the private rented sector. 

“The powers are already there for councils to tackle and root out criminal landlords who cause misery for their tenants. 

“What is lacking are both the will and the resources to properly use them. We fail to see how establishing a new body of this kind will help to address this.”

To read the full Citizens Advice report click here.