TLIC: Government PRS database must work for agents and tenants

The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC) today publishes a new report arguing that the Government’s PRS database, set to launch as part of the Renters’ Rights Act’s package of rental reforms, must improve levels of compliance, transparency and tenant safety in the private rented sector.

In its report, TLIC calls on the Government to take urgent steps to ensure the database fulfils its purpose of driving out rogue and criminal landlords from the market.

It concludes that unless a clear strategy underpinned by clear priorities is introduced, the database will simply be unable to deliver on its objectives.

TLIC’s report states that the database must be guided by six core principles:

• Clarity – clearly identify landlords, agents, and properties. Adopting the Unique Property Reference Number or UPRN by default.
• Flexibility – recognising the complex reality of legal ownership structures, such as companies, trusts and joint ownership arrangements.
• Intuitiveness – Making the process user-friendly and genuinely useful for all users.
• Access to compliance – providing tenants access to relevant compliance information to help decision-making act and safeguard against unsafe housing.
• Digital efficiency – Digitally integrating property safety records and compliance documents to avoid administrative delays and duplication of work.
• Proportionate implementation – taking steps to understand what operational realities are like for landlords and agents. Deploying the database to help, rather than hinder businesses.

If you’d like to read the report, click here to access its conclusions in full.

Theresa Wallace, Co-Chair of The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC), said:

“As it stands the Government risks missing an opportunity to build a PRS database adapted to meet the fast-changing needs of the market. The best way forward is for the Government to adopt a collaborative, pragmatic approach to its introduction during the next stage of rental reform. 

“With phase two of the Renters’ Rights Act’s implementation rapidly approaching, now is the time for the Government to consider how it can help agents and landlords as they plan their transition towards this new system.

“If the PRS database is to have any chance of success, the Government has to take decisive steps which encourage effective engagement with the database on the part of stakeholders. If they fail to take this approach, the database will only become an expensive waste of resource.”

-ENDS-

Notes

• If you’d like to read more about TLIC’s conclusions, their report can be accessed in full here.
• You can find further details on The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC) on their website here.
• If you have any queries in connection with the above, please email [email protected] or call 0300 131 6363.