The Tory government has no plans to introduce a national landlords register for England if they win the next election.
Viscount Younger of Leckie, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for housing, disclosed the information in a reply to a written question from Labour’s Liberal Democrat spokesman for communities and housing, Baroness Thornhill.
She asked if the government had made any decisions about a report recommending the register from the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health earlier this year.
The report looks at how selective and additional licensing works across England.
Viscount Younger said: “A detailed assessment of this report has not been made. This government commissioned an independent review into selective licensing which was published in June and the recommendations are currently being reviewed.
“This government has no current plans to introduce a national landlord register, which could place an additional regulatory burden on landlords. This government is committed to improving the private rented sector by driving out criminal landlords and landlords who consistently neglect their responsibilities to provide safe and decent accommodation.
“Local authorities currently have a wide range of powers available to them including banning orders for the worst offenders, civil penalties of up to £30,000 and a database of rogue landlords and property agents targeted at the worst persistent and criminal offenders.”
Although Parliament has been dissolved, MPs lose their seats in Westminster but retain their government posts until the General Election, which allows them to carry on with official business.
Members of the House of Lords do not lose their titles and retain their government roles.
If Labour win control at Westminster, it’s likely the national landlord register for England will be reinstated. Wales and Scotland have registers.
