Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make landlord registration schemes mandatory for all local authorities in England to improve protections for tenants from rogue landlords.

Local authorities have a range of powers and tools to protect tenants and support enforcement activities. This includes civil penalties of up to £30,000, banning orders for the worst offenders and powers to tackle illegal evictions.

In April 2018, using powers under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, we introduced a national database of rogue landlords and property agents alongside banning orders for the worst landlords.

We will consider further measures, such as expanding the scope of the database, as part of preparation for the Renters Reform Bill.