This is how agents will have to use the new Landlords Database

Propertymark has given an insight into how letting agents are likely to be expected to use a new Landlords Database.

The database is one of the major provisions of the Renters Reform Bill, launched last week and now starting what may be a lengthy path through Parliament before it becomes law.

Within the Bill, the government makes a commitment to establish a new Property Portal that would include all the vital information agents, tenants and landlords need to know. This information would range from legal requirements to rights and the landlord’s history of compliance.

It would include a landlord database containing details of people who are, or who intend to become, residential landlords; details of properties which are, or are intended to be, let as residential properties; and details of landlords who have received banning orders, including details of financial penalties or convictions relating to banning orders.

Under the Bill’s provisions, a letting agent or landlord would be unable to let or market a property to rent if there is no active landlord or property entry for that property registered on the database. 

And if a landlord fails to join the database, they will be fined up to £5,000 by their local council. Repeated offences could lead up to fines of £30,000. 

Propertymark says: “It will be the expectation that letting agents will need to check if a landlord and property are correctly registered on the database before they market a property for let. Property agents will face penalties if they advertise or market residential properties for rent which are not registered.

“Once established, the database will incorporate the Privately Rented Property Portal and start to include further information related to property standards, although the exact information continues to be deliberated by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.”

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, says: “A key area for letting agents is the private rented sector database, property portal and landlord ombudsman and how these will interact with registration, unique identifiers and requirements before and when advertising property to rent.

“These are key policies that we will engage government and parliamentarians on in order to ensure they understand the value that letting agents play in delivering well managed, safe and secure rented property. The legislation must be workable, and evidence based.”