Ed Miliband says will introduce Landlord licensing.

BobQ

Callie22 wrote: »

It's not curiosity, merely something that would allow me as a tenant to balance the risks of taking property x over property y. I don't care who lives next door to me as they are very unlikely to have a) a key to my 'home' and b) a right to enter the property, but ultimately a landlord has both of those things. Landlords can already find out far more about a tenant than a tenant can find out about the landlord, so it seems only reasonable that a tenant should be able to know if their landlord is of 'good character' or not. Ultimately it's a free(ish) market - I can decide not to rent your house, you can decide not to rent to me, and that's how it should be. But there does need to be something of a 'evening up' of the information upon which both landlords and tenants can make that decision.

I see your point, but as a tenant you can change the lock and refuse the landlord access without an appointment.

I cannot see an argument that you should know as much about the landlord as the LL knows about you. What matters is whether you both know enough for your purposes. It will be interesting what Milliband comes forward with on the proof of good character topic.

ILW

BobQ wrote: »

I see your point, but as a tenant you can change the lock and refuse the landlord access without an appointment.

I cannot see an argument that you should know as much about the landlord as the LL knows about you. What matters is whether you both know enough for your purposes. It will be interesting what Milliband comes forward with on the proof of good character topic.

On that basis, why not stop CRB checks on anyone from driving instructors and cabbies, to nursery assistants and meter readers? After all you can chose if you wish to use them or not.

John_Pierpoint

meanwhile North of the Border:

https://www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk/Pages/Process.aspx?Command=ShowHelpApplicationPayment

BobQ

ILW wrote: »

On that basis, why not stop CRB checks on anyone from driving instructors and cabbies, to nursery assistants and meter readers? After all you can chose if you wish to use them or not.

Fair point.

The CRB check is for those who have regular and unsupervised access to vulnerable persons including children We now seem to be extending this to more and more categories of person. Maybe we should just have a check for anyone who breaths?:)