The government has put forward proposals this week to regulate the burgeoning private-rented sector.
Data on landlords will be collated in a National Register for Landlords, which will allow discriminating tenants to view the track records of landlords on property maintenance.
Another plan is for the development of a 'Trip Advisor' style feedback site allowing former and current tenants to post their views on rental accommodation and landlords and confer on prospective landlords.
Written tenancy agreements will become mandatory, in a bid to root out 'Rising Damp' style landlords.
However, the chairman of the National Landlords Association (NLA), David Salusbury, warned that measures had to be moderate, in order to not discourage individuals from investing in the rental market.
"The NLA has said again and again that we do not need further regulation which over-burdens the overwhelming majority of good landlords.
"However, we recognise the desperate need for local authorities to better use existing powers to drive up standards and root out rogue operators.
"Once again, we call on councils to devise strategies which target rogue landlords without penalising the law-abiding majority", Mr Salusbury said.
See Also: Property News (6699)
Date Published: 04 February 2010
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