THE Government is determined to completely overhaul the residential lettings industry, which is now both necessary and long overdue.

It is proposing to introduce mandatory licensing registration for private rented sector landladies, landlords and residential letting agents, plus a national register for landlords following the 2008 Rugg report.

The Government had made changes to the industry as part of the 2004 Housing Act but following representations from bodies such as the Law Commission, Shelter and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, further changes are now proposed.

All private rented sector landladies and landlords in particular would have to be registered before letting a residential property including any newspaper advertising under Government plans to curb abuses and illegal practices within the growing rental market.

Therefore, any person letting a residential property, such as a two-bedroom house including student accommodation, would have to pay about £50 to register with a national body.

Any eventual licensing legislation would most certainly include developers, buy-to-let investors, novices, established landlords and the growing ranks of “accidental landlords” who cannot sell their homes and have been forced to let them out instead.

As chairman of the Merseyside and Wirral Property Landlord Action Group, I am personally in favour of the Government’s intentions, as long as it rids the residential lettings industry of unlicensed letting agents and rogue landlords and landladies.

Some still provide sub-standard accommodation and fail to observe current and electrical fire and gas safety regulations, despite stringent laws and heavy fines designed to prevent such actions.

However, as a fair parity, the proposals should also include effective legislation to deal with rogue tenants, before it goes before Parliament.

FOR further information on the Government proposals, I can be contacted at the action group on 0151 639 6253 up until 10pm, Monday to Friday.