Communities and Local Government CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Iain Beaton

Rogue Landlords and Rogue tenants need to be taken to task. However we should not a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Rogue landlords abuse tenants and probably pay little tax.

Although many landlords fear being licensed, if this were a simple system and cheap, £50 registration I can’t see why anyone need object.

Landlords could have star rating as used in many other areas (ie ebay, autotrader etc).

Tenants could register and been given a number (picture on line) which could be checked by any new landlord. In a bad tenants register (there is already a web site offering this).

A simple on-line scheme run by companies like Net Rent, NLA, My Deposit, DPS etc would be a simple solution. If My deposit or Let sure can carry out similar task for checking tenants and holding deposits, and have computer structures in place it can’t be too difficult to set up.

Upfront fees need to stay, but a control on agents overcharging could be implemented.

Local Council must pay the landlord direct if they want to have more landlords joining their schemes. I have lost out to tenants, being paid direct and not paying me on every occasion, I will never again offer this option.

The landlords need more protection against bad tenants and easier means to evict, the laws are too much in favour of the tenants.

January 2013