New public online database for landlords in London

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a new public online database to protect people privately renting homes in the capital.

The Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker, believed to be the first in the country, will name landlords and lettings agents who have been successfully prosecuted or have faced civil enforcement action for housing offences.

Khan hopes that the database will give Londoners greater confidence in renting a home by allowing them to check a prospective landlord or letting agent. As well as records on prosecutions and enforcement action, the database will offer tenants a tool for the easy reporting of landlords they suspect of unscrupulous practices.

Khan, said: “The housing market in London is difficult enough for Londoners to navigate, without those landlords and letting agents who behave unscrupulously leaving tenants living in appalling conditions, despite often paying sky-high rents. I promised to do everything within my powers to help Londoners facing this problem – I will not stand by while they are exploited.

“Many landlords and agents across London offer a great service – but sadly some don’t. My new database is about empowering Londoners to make informed choices about where they rent, and sending rogue operators a clear message: you have nowhere to hide. Boroughs on the database and I are using our existing powers to help London’s renters – but to go much further we need investment and resources from central government. For a start they should stop dragging their feet on the creation of the compulsory national database they promised to set-up. Before Ministers have even laid the regulations for their database, we’ve planned, built and launched ours – and unlike the government’s plans, we have made our database accessible to the public.”