Landlord Licensing 2024

While I can see a possible benefit to having a Landlord licensing register, such as knowing every Landlord and letting property, there must be Landlords who do not engage an agent and who may not be aware of the laws, which would be surprising, but are failing to comply.

As most letting agents will attest, we are often called to valuations to state a rental, only to be told the property has been let privately. From that perspective, Licensing may be suitable. What is not good is Government overreach into citizens' private lives.

Although, like so many things implemented by the Government, I didn't see it prominently among candidates' manifestos in the last election, we now know that Landlord licensing is here. We can moan about the quality of our politicians and their public behaviour and marvel at the slap on the wrists for their misdemeanors in office or petty arguments, and listen to their apologies to the house. However, Landlords and Agents must now be exemplary, not make any mistakes and are an easy target for some of our States politicians.

The regulation is somewhat onerous for Landlords. How one can say it is light touch when a Department of the States will have a right to enter into a property, which presumably will be tenanted, and therefore, even if it is impinging on the private tenant, is a misnomer. The debate featured those in the States who were opposed to the licensing rightly stating this.

Political soundbites from proponents are far removed from the reality encountered by the electorate. For example, what is a "revenge" eviction? I have been involved in property for over 40 years, dealing with leases, residential and commercial. When a lease ends, it is either due to the Tenant wanting to leave or, alternatively, the Landlord wanting to sell. "Revenge" does not come in to it.

We currently receive weekly enquiries from Landlords seeking to exit the rental market. Unfortunately, contrary to what the States may be saying, the properties we visit are good-quality homes that are being lost to the rental sector. The genuine reason is that the Landlords have "had enough" and are quitting the industry.

Consequently, there will be less rental housing, and rents will rise. The added burden of regulation on Landlords, and costs, can only be passed on to the Landlord, who, in turn, will pass them on to the tenant by way of added rent. I suspect we will see more sale properties coming to the market soon.

As to what is required under the Landlord Licensing another article deals with that subject