A far-ranging national government-backed database,
covering all housing-related convictions, should be created to help councils
launch a crackdown on "postcode" rogue landlords who are endangering
tenants' lives. The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents over
370 councils in England and Wales, says serial criminal landlords, who are
being blocked from operating by some boroughs running licensing schemes, may be
moving to other postcodes and trying to set up their unscrupulous businesses.
The LGA is calling for:
·
A much tougher "fit and proper person"
test – an initial screening process which is designed to weed out rogue
landlords
·
Letting agents to be brought under the same
legislation as estate agents so the bad operators can be booted out
·
Stronger sentencing guidelines for magistrates
and a wider range of penalties
Read more on the LGA website.
No comments:
Post a Comment