The Database of Rogue Landlords and Property Agents records landlords and agents who have either been issued a banning order stopping them from legally renting out property they own or manage. The system came into effect in April 2018, and the database is managed by local councils across England and Wales. Pressures on the private rented sector are high, and if you’re desperate to find somewhere to live it can be tempting to turn a blind eye to the lack of background checks a landlord wants to run, or skip checking up on whether the landlord themselves is on the list.
Why A Landlord Would Be on the Rogue Landlord List
There are many different reasons why a landlord might find themselves on the list. However there are two main categories of offence which are safety related, or not having the correct licence. There are strict laws around the standard a property must be in order to be rented out. Landlords have to make sure that they have gas boilers serviced, that the house is safe in terms of fire escapes, and that their property is not overcrowded, along with a multitude of other requirements. If a landlord doesn’t bother complying, or does not take action to repair faults when reported by tenants, then they could easily be put onto the rogue landlord list.
Checking the List
If alarm bells are starting to ring about a property you are interested in or a landlord you are dealing with, then you can approach the local council and ask whether the person is listed on the database. You are not allowed access to the database yourself, but there will be someone nominated at the council who can do these checks for you. The database includes the following information about landlords and agents:
- Full name and address
- Addresses of all properties owned, let, or managed as
- National insurance number and date of birth
- Duration of ban
- Reason for the ban
Landlords and agents can apply to be removed from the database early, before serving the entire ban, if they can prove that they have taken action to put right whatever it was that got them added to the database in the first place.
Help – My Landlord is on the List!
If you have checked the database and your local Council has confirmed that the address you are interested in, or the agent you are dealing with is on the list, what should you do? The best advice is not to deal with that particular agent and look elsewhere for somewhere to live. That’s easier said than done though, especially in situations where property is in short supply. However, by knowingly dealing with someone on the banned list, you are setting yourself up for issues in the future should you run into maintenance problems with your property.
Ask for help and advice from the local council, or housing charities such as Shelter, who should be able to advise on your best course of action for getting a safe property from a reputable landlord.
