Morrison on CLG measures for private rental sector

Without the introduction of a minimum standard of quality for private rented properties it is inevitable that some landlords will continue renting out poor quality accommodation.

Guy Wakeley, Chief Executive of Morrison, a leading provider of repairs, maintenance and Decent Homes services to the social housing sector, responds to the Communities and Local Government new package of measures for the private rental sector: "The Government's proposal to introduce a national register of every private landlord is a welcome step in improving protection for private tenants and good landlords.

It will also hopefully help improve the quality of stock, by providing more support for tenants who complain and by removing those landlords who persistently perform badly.

"However, without the introduction of a minimum standard of quality for private rented properties, such as the Decent Homes standard which most housing associations and councils must meet, it is inevitable that some landlords will continue renting out poor quality accommodation.

"This will create an unfair system; both for private tenants who are living in poor quality accommodation and for social housing landlords who have spent considerable funds on updating their properties, when their counterparts in the private sector can potentially continue letting substandard homes.

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