Would you allow childminding in your rental property?
Over the last decade, the number of childminders in England and Wales has declined substantially, with the Government committed to addressing the issue. This week the NRLA met with the Government to discuss the barriers to childminding in rental homes. Policy Manager James Wood explains more.
Between 2012 and 2022, the number of registered childminders nearly halved, making it more difficult for parents to return to work.
The Government is looking at ways to address this problem and increase the number of childminders in the UK.
One of the main barriers that potential childminders can face is whether or not their landlord will give permission to use the property for childminding purposes.
Childminding agencies report that around one in five potential applicants are prevented from continuing an application because of problems gaining permission in this way.
Landlords of course, do have a number of reason why they may refuse permission to use the property for childminding purposes. Fair wear and tear may be a concern, or mortgage, leasehold or insurance conditions could potentially prevent a business from operating at the residence.
However, childminders are required to maintain the property to a high standard and ensure it is safe for the children as part of their duties. Typically, they would also be long term tenants who may be willing to pay additional rent to cover any potential extra damage.
The NRLA will be meeting again with the Department of Education and we would like to hear your thoughts on this. Have you granted permission in the past? Would you in the future? If you haven’t done so, what could be done to make it a more attractive option?
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