Landlord and Tenant: Internet

(asked on 18th May 2018) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the risk that independent room renting websites which are not part of an accreditation body expose potential tenants to.


Answered by
Heather Wheeler Portrait
Heather Wheeler
This question was answered on 29th May 2018

It is important that resident landlords understand and meet their obligations to tenants. The Government has published guidance to inform resident landlords of their rights and responsibilities: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letting-rooms-in-your-home-a-guide-for-resident-landlords/letting-rooms-in-your-home-a-guide-for-resident-landlords. This guidance covers a number of areas including deposits, and it encourages resident landlords who take a deposit to keep it in a separate bank account to enable its easy return at the end of the tenancy.

The Government has no plans to revisit the legal framework for resident landlords or independent room renting websites. We are supportive of best practice and would be willing to speak to representatives of resident landlords to discuss any industry initiatives to improve standards, however it is not for Government to establish an industry body. With regards to the Residential Tenancies Board, this is an organisation which is based in the Republic of Ireland and does not have jurisdiction in the United Kingdom. There is no intention to make landlords join this organisation, or to make resident landlords register with local authorities.

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