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Mandatory Registration Scheme for Landlords, Lettings and Management Agents
Monday, May 28, 2012
The Welsh Government has
published its housing White Paper, entitled 'A White Paper
for Better Lives and Communities'. According to Housing
Minister, Huw Lewis AM, the paper "sets out a bold and
ambitious programme of legislative and non-legislative action to
tackle homelessness, to improve conditions in the private rented
sector and to deliver more homes, as well as proposals for tenancy
reform, which will benefit tenants and landlords alike", and
further that "the action set out in the White Paper aims to
tackle issues within housing sector as a whole, rather than
adopting the piecemeal approach that has been taken in the past, in
which traditional social housing has dominated. While social
housing remains a major commitment, a more comprehensive approach
is also outlined."
Proposals set out in the White Paper include:
- Strengthening the strategic role of local authorities to
identify and address local housing needs;
- Tackling the waste and blight of empty properties by giving
local authorities discretionary power to increase council tax on
properties empty for longer than one year;
- Increased focus on tackling empty homes through the national
"Houses into Homes" programme and other programmes;
- Withdrawal from the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy after
concluding negotiations with HM Treasury;
- Effective regional collaboration on housing functions and
services, including the Supporting People programme;
- Improving the conditions for individuals and families who rent
their home from private landlords by improving the practices of
landlords, lettings agents and managing agents. Good private sector
landlords will benefit from these changes as it will not allow bad
practice to continue.
The paper also states that that the Welsh Government will:
"Legislate for a national, mandatory, registration and
accreditation scheme for private landlords, lettings and management
agents based on agreed Codes of Practice, and ensure every tenant
has a written tenancy agreement."
The White Paper is open for
consultation until 17 August 2012. The Welsh Government
then aims to introduce a Bill "in autumn 2013".