Gareth Wax will be in the chair, joined as always by Juliet Baboolal, Chris Gilsenan and Hamish McLay, alongside returning guest Wendy Gibson, who brings her insight into the realities of housing quality and accountability within the sector. Together, they will look at what this new approach could mean for landlords, agents and tenants across England.
From 27th December, local authorities will be allowed to enter properties without warning if they believe a landlord has breached their duties, such as failing to register on the national landlord database or submitting false information. The powers sit within the Renters’ Rights Act and are being promoted as a way to clamp down on rogue landlords.
It all sounds very robust on paper, although one cannot help noticing the irony. Some of the very ministers promoting these measures have struggled with their own property affairs, from unpaid stamp duty and incorrect rental licences to quietly re-letting homes at higher rents while others face fines for doing the same.
What makes matters worse is that several of these same ministers have made misleading statements about their own compliance, downplaying or denying issues that later came to light. It is little wonder that many in the sector view these new powers with a raised eyebrow.
For most landlords who work hard to stay compliant, the thought of a council official turning up unannounced feels unsettling. Many already face complex paperwork, shifting regulations and increasing costs. The idea that an honest mistake could now spark an inspection does not exactly inspire confidence.
For letting agents, the message is much the same: have everything in order. Every certificate, licence and record needs to be kept up to date, because while councils must inform landlords afterwards, the letter explaining why they visited will only arrive once the inspection has already happened.
There is also the question of resources. Many councils are already struggling to meet existing duties, so how they will manage surprise inspections on top of everything else remains to be seen. The potential for inconsistency, or even misuse, is clear, especially where local politics and enforcement priorities overlap.
This week’s Property Quorum will explore whether these powers will genuinely raise standards or simply add to the growing weight of regulation that responsible landlords and agents already carry. With Wendy Gibson adding her perspective on how enforcement might affect both good and bad practice, the panel will also touch on the wider issue of trust, and whether rules are being applied fairly across the board, from tenants and landlords to those who make the laws themselves.
Join us live on Thursday 6th November at 10am as Property Quorum opens the door, notice or not, on one of the most talked about changes in the rental world this year.
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