Government Plans To Improve The Private Rented Sector
Major recommendations to improve the Private Rented Sector for both tenants and landlords were published today. The review recommends to improve the quality of the sector through:
- Introducing a light touch licensing system for landlords and mandatory regulation for letting agencies, to increase protection for both vulnerable tenants and good landlords.
- Introducing a new independent complaints and redress procedure for consumers, to help end long drawn out disputes.
- Tax changes to encourage good landlords to grow, including changes to stamp duty to encourage them to buy more properties.
- Looking at ways for the PRS to be more accommodating towards households on lower incomes, including considering more support for landlords prepared to house more vulnerable people.
- Local authorities taking steps to better understand the sector and support good landlords whilst tackling poorly performing landlords and promoting tenants’ rights.
Julie Rugg and David Rhodes were commissioned by the Government in January 2008 to look at what problems tenants and landlords face in the Private Rented Sector. The report can be viewed at www.york.ac.uk/inst/chp/Projects/PRSreview.htm
The Government will now carefully consider the recommendations before deciding next steps.
Source: Communities & Local Government
