London mayor publishes rental standard
Author: Pete Apps, Inside Housing |
London mayor Boris Johnson has published a final version of his London rental standard, aimed at raising standards in the city’s booming private rented sector.
The voluntary set of minimum standards follows in depth consultation with the sector since December last year.
The standard details 12 core commitments relating to fees and protection of deposits and emergency and urgent repairs response times, as well as landlord and letting agent training and development through professional training courses.
It also supports the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme, an accreditation and training resource for landlords, which the mayor’s office plan to invest £100,000 in.
The mayor will launch a major public awareness campaign, with the aim of getting 100,000 landlords and letting agents signed up to the scheme by 2016.
Mr Johnson, said: ‘With more and more of this city’s workforce living in rented accommodation, London’s growing private rented sector is essential to London’s economy.
‘While most landlords provide a highly professional service, this more coordinated and transparent approach will create a more competitive market, empowering tenants and incentivising landlords to expect and provide a consistent high quality service.’
The move was welcomed by the National Landlord Association, who said they would encourage their members to join the scheme.
As part of the London rental standard consultation around 5,000 private tenants completed a survey organised by housing and homelessness charity Shelter.
Shelter’s chief executive Campbell Robb said: ‘Rogue landlords, sky-high lettings fees and poor conditions can make finding a home in the capital’s overheated rental market an expensive gamble, so it’s welcome news that the mayor has listened to the thousands of Londoners who joined Shelter’s campaign to tell him that renting in the capital just wasn’t good enough.’