Government Plans Compulsory Licensing For All Landlords

More red tape for landlords looms on the horizon if we are to believe the report in the Times that the government is to introduce compulsory licensing for landlords in a bid to stamp out errant landlords.

We support any initiative that will improve standards in the residential letting industry but it remains unclear exactly how this will help. It seems more likely to create more pit-falls and obstacles for honest landlords committed to delivering on their side of the bargain - whilst as ever the rogues will slip under the radar.

Perhaps more useful would be some action to allow landlords faster possession and recompense where tenants are willfully errant. That of course might be too much to wish for. Meanwhile we wait to see what becomes of this latest non-job creating "inishitiv".