REsidEnTiallettings
the industry reaction rupert dickinson
PROPERTYdrum gathered opinion chief executive of grainger plc
from the professionals: and chair bpf residential
committee
christopher hamer “As the UK’s largest listed residential
the property ombudsman landlord, we welcome the Government’s
“I support the concept of licensing of sales, response to the Rugg Review and their
lettings and management agents as such an commitment to the professionalisation of
approach will, especially if linked to an the private rented sector. Owner-
entry qualification and perhaps continuing occupation has been upheld as the tenure
educational development, build on the
As the UK’s largest
of choice for far too long and a new
professionalism of those operating in the framework for the private rented sector is
industry. That greater professionalism will
listed residential
long overdue. In order for any reforms to
bring about enhanced standards generally be effective, further regulation must not be
but potentially in particular in the field of
landlord, we welcome
restrictive and we welcome the
customer service and that can only be
the Government’s
Government’s emphasis on light-touch
positive for agent and consumer alike. licensing. Our own research published last
“There are currently several initiatives by response to the year in the Cowans Report, made
various bodies in different sectors of the additional recommendations that
property world looking at licensing or
Rugg Review and
highlighted the benefits of practical
registration. That displays the level of
their commitment to
incentives, such as VAT relief for registered
interest in and acceptance of such a landlords to support the implementation of
regime. It would seem sensible that if those
the professionalisation
a licensing regime. The overall aim should
bodies are not working together they be to reward good practice.”
should at least co-ordinate activity to of the private
ensure that their approaches are david salusbury
consistent across all agents.”
rented sector.’
chairman, the national
rupert dickinson, grainger plc landlords association (nla),
ian potter labelled the recommendations
operations manager at arla on the proposed database of
“ARLA launched the Licensing scheme management agents; a national registration rental properties as
before we were aware of the Government’s scheme for landlords and mandatory well-meaning but flawed:
plans to regulate the industry. The regulation of lettings agents will propel the “The Government proposes to introduce a
Association is nevertheless pleased that we sector forward in achieving best practice register of English landlords to include not
seem to have influenced the Minister’s and increasing consumer protection. But only a landlord’s name and home address
thinking on the issue. agents don’t have to wait – they can but also the addresses of their rental
“The report is a further discussion demonstrate to consumers now that they properties.
document and there are still many issues to fully meet industry standards for customer “The most controversial part of the
be debated, such as who will leading on the service by gaining NALS accreditation.” national register would be the requirement
licensing of agents. However, the report Nigel Terrington, Paragon Group Chief for all landlords to submit details of their
does indicate that it will be an independent Executive, also welcomed the proposals property holdings at the time of
body. There is clearly more lobbying to do but urged that more be done to enable the registration and re-registration each year. It
but this doesn’t take away from the fact landlords that form the backbone of the is possible to see some benefit to a ‘no
that the Government’s stance is moving in sector to access finance to help grow their hurdle,’ low-cost, easy-to-use register for
the right direction in this key area.” businesses and expand the stock of landlords as part of a concerted drive to
private rented property to meet rising root out rogue operators.
caroline pickering tenant demand. “However, the NLA would be opposed
chairman of nals “Institutional investment is not the to the collection of rental property
“We are very pleased that the Government answer. The PRS is dominated by addresses. We consider this to be overly
overwhelmingly agrees with the Rugg individual landlords who have the intrusive and of no direct benefit to tenants
Report’s call for independent regulation of knowledge and expertise to meet the or landlords. Any changes must not be
lettings and management agents. We fully demands of their local community. seen as the ‘thin end of the edge’ in terms
agree that it is absolutely necessary that Local tenant demand drives their of further, burdensome regulation.
any regulatory body is not bound or led by investment decisions. “Reform must be workable for landlords
the industry, although it must work with “The foundations for the growth of the and not damage the private-rented sector.
the industry to ensure that any licensing market are already in place but those The challenge now for Government should
framework sets achievable, accessible foundations can’t be built on until finance be to focus on incentives and
standards for all good agents operating is made available to landlords through buy- encouragement.”
in the sector. to-let lenders. More needs to be done to
“There is a need for tighter regulation give those landlords access to the finance
Do you have any comments to share?
and accountability among lettings and needed to help grow their business.”
www.propertydrum.com/articles/jrugg
48 JUNE 2009 PROPERTYdrum
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