News

The Mayor of London has announced criminal landlords and letting agents who exploit their tenants will be ‘named and shamed’ on a new online database.

Isobel Thomson, NALS CEO, responds to the plans:

NALS fully supports any measures that improve the private rented sector. The criminal landlords and agents database will place a spotlight on the inconsistent approach to housing regulation across London. About 80 per cent of housing prosecutions are taken by just five boroughs, while others take no prosecutions. Councils must up their game to tackle the rogue element of the market.

We would urge the Mayor and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to consider adding agents who do not display fees or fail to belong to a redress scheme to the database in order to protect consumers.

It’s vital too that the GLA develop a more consistent approach to property licensing schemes. Every scheme in London has different terms and conditions, criteria and geographical coverage with no consistency in application process or fees. This has to change.”