Private Landlord database to be fast-tracked?

It appears that the communities secretary, John Denham, wishes to Fast Track the legislation required to introduce the proposed database of every private landlord in the country.

Sadly, what might be seen as a sensible and small step in the right direction, is vociferously opposed by many of those who it seeks to register.

Whether on the grounds that agreeing to a minimum standard of conduct and registering as a landlord is too “beurocratic”:

“The last thing the Government should be doing at the moment is discouraging homeowners from taking in lodgers by over-legislating and forcing people to sign up to a national register,”

said Matt Hutchinson, director of Spareroom.co.uk, a house share website.

“Falling property prices have left thousands of homeowners in negative equity and struggling to make ends meet, and being able to bring in some extra income by taking in a lodger has proved a lifeline for many people.”

or over fears that the database will be used by tax officials to track down those who are evading the correct tax payments on their investments:

Richard Price, director of operations at the National Landlords Assoc, said he was also against any extension to spare-room landlords:

“There should be more effective ways for HMRC to find tax evaders that do not result in homeowners withdrawing their contribution to the housing shortage.”

Revenue and Customs admitted yesterday that it has few details about tax income from private landlords, as it is split between personal self-assessment forms and corporate returns. Nor does it have any idea how many evade payments.

Officials from the Department of Communities and Local Government said that the measures were not intended as a tax crackdown but to strengthen local authorities in tackling bad landlords with a record of exploiting vulnerable tenants. Those failing to undertake essential repairs or improperly not returning deposits would incur penalty points and serial offenders would be struck off the register and barred from letting their properties, he said.

source: http://property.timesonline.co.uk