By Steve Roulstone

Today the Government have released their Housing Strategy for England, which is designed to give a kick start to housing sales across the UK, which most would agree is something that is badly needed and a view point that I totally agree with and have commented so in these pages on many occasions over the last eighteen months. But Housing Sales are not the only consideration nowadays and for once the Government have acknowledged this, with a section and strategy purely designed to encourage Landlords to start buying more property for the rental market.

Rounding a square peg.

I recognise that one problem the Government had to address was how to encourage growth in an area that had come under such criticism (Profit from rising property prices) for the perceived effect profit on Property values had had on the current financial situation and current property price de-valuation. What I did not expect but can perfectly understand is the decision to encourage growth through Business organisations rather than individuals. This very comfortably  delivers possibility of growth, which according to conversations I have recently had with Management at one of the larger National Property houses, whose clients include the organisations targeted by this policy, who are actively buying property in numbers at the moment, will be well received.

Using Council powers.

What I still cannot understand and accept, is that Local Government will be the answer to what is described as the ‘rouge Landlords’ who still flaunt such legislation as the Tenants Deposit Scheme and Houses of Multiple Occupation standards or as mentioned, the Decent Housing standards, for certainly where we are based in the Midlands, all Councils that I have come in too contact with have confirmed that they do not have either the man power or time (ability) to pursue Landlords and therefore deliver a local deterrent.

Working with the Industry.

It is very encouraging to see a whole section giving information about what the Industry can deliver and I am sure the ringing endorsement of the ‘Safe Agent scheme’ has been well received by the Industry in general, but I cannot make comment about this situation without pointing out that if the Government really wanted to get rid of rouge Landlords at the same time as increasing standards, then the Industry is here with open arms! Surely the fact behind the figures quoted that more property in the rented sector is of better quality than in the hands of owner occupiers says it all. I know that all of the properties in our Management would pass with flying colours, because we would not manage property that failed these standards.

Where does the problem lie?

I am also well aware that the figures state that some of the worst quality housing is in the private rental sector as well. Now with the information that we do not manage them and with the firm belief that neither do other professional Letting Agencies, it does not take such a massive leap of imagination to realise where these properties do actually lie! So what is the answer? Simple, involve us in managing or looking at these properties, so that all Landlords have to be connected with some professional licensed Agent. There are further issues raised for the rental sector by this statement especially surrounding Green policies, which I will address through these pages later this week.

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