The capital’s criminal landlords are about to be named and shamed with Sadiq Khan’s plan to out property owners online who have acted against the law.
The tool, which is set to launch later this year, will list landlords and letting agents who have been prosecuted for housing offences. With this, renters can check on their future landlord before signing a lease, or they can find out who they’re currently dealing with.
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To begin with, the online platform will provide information for six boroughs: Newham, Brent, Camden, Southwark, Kingston and Sutton. Other are set to follow once the tool is up and running.
Furthermore, the mayor has also promised the launch of a property portal on the City Hall’s website, as City AM reports. The portal will advertise affordable homes on the rental and sales market in London.
Khan stated:
“I refuse to stand by as thousands of Londoners suffer sky-high rents and horrendous living conditions in a city they call home. I want to be clear that the vast majority of landlords treat renters well, but a minority are exploiting their tenants and it’s simply unacceptable. This must stop now.”
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This clampdown on rogue landlords comes after a year of significant Government intervention into the rental market. It follows an additional stamp duty surcharge which was introduced in April 2016 and a ban on letting agents fees announced in last year’s Autumn Statement.
Whilst both policies were fiercely opposed, the Government remained firm, keeping both regulation in place. Whether this most recent development will see a similar backlash is questionable as those tempted to speak up will probably be the ones renters could find on the register.
