Renters in privacy-based living situations are subjected to a geographical disparity when reporting substandard housing conditions, primarily due to inadequate enforcement staff
In an effort to enhance the quality of housing in England's private rented sector, a new report titled "Detailing the database: how the private rented sector database can support enforcement and drive up standards" has been released by the independent charitable think tank, the New Economics Foundation. The report, available at this link, provides insights into the most stretched and best-resourced areas for private rented sector enforcement.
According to the report, the district of Huntingdonshire has the most stretched enforcement capacity, with 24,831 properties per enforcement officer. In stark contrast, Nottingham boasts the best capacity, with 267 properties per officer. Across England, the average is over 3,300 properties per officer, highlighting significant variation across the country.
The report is based on qualitative data collected via 18 interviews and two focus groups with tenants, landlords, local and combined authority representatives, and other stakeholders. Unfortunately, the report does not provide information about the five worst-equipped districts in England regarding private rental housing registration offices and their implementation of standards.
In response to these findings, the government plans to create a landlord registry to form a comprehensive database for tenants, landlords, and local authorities. The report estimates revenue for a new landlord registration portal based on 4.7 million private rented sector households, 2.3 million landlords, and an assumption that 65% of landlords will sign up to the landlord registry.
Various fee structures, including per-property, per-landlord, and hybrid models, have been modelled in the report. A £46 annual registration fee could pay to ensure no enforcement officer oversees more than 1,000 properties, potentially trebling staffing for private rented sector enforcement across the country.
There is high agreement among tenants, landlords, and local government about the importance of the proposed database for improving the private rented sector. Tenants and representatives see the database as an opportunity for much-needed regulation, while over half of landlords believe the private rented sector needs more regulation.
Christian Jaccarini, senior economist at the New Economics Foundation, stated that the proposed landlord registry could end the postcode lottery in enforcement and make decent housing a right. The financial impact on landlords would be minimal, with the fee reducing landlord yields by less than 0.03 percentage points, even in areas with lower rents.
The report underscores the urgent need for improved enforcement in the private rented sector. With the proposed landlord registry, England could take a significant step towards ensuring decent housing for all private renters.
