RICS calls for rental database
The government should create a central database of householders in rented properties as an alternative to the current system of tenant-funded credit and reference checks, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
The proposed database would hold landlord references and past rental payment histories for up to 10m householders currently living in private and social rented properties across England, according to the RICS Rented Sector Policy Paper, published today.
It would be particularly beneficial to more vulnerable tenants with poor credit ratings, as it would allow landlords to access other vital information, such as past rental histories, allowing them to look beyond traditional measures of suitability.
The government should create a central database of householders in rented properties as an alternative to the current system of tenant-funded credit and reference checks, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
The proposed database would hold landlord references and past rental payment histories for up to 10m householders currently living in private and social rented properties across England, according to the RICS Rented Sector Policy Paper, published today.
It would be particularly beneficial to more vulnerable tenants with poor credit ratings, as it would allow landlords to access other vital information, such as past rental histories, allowing them to look beyond traditional measures of suitability.
The database would also offer an alternative to the tenant-funded credit checks that government is looking to axe next year. Details would only be accessed with the tenant’s permission.
Jeremy Blackburn, RICS head of policy, said: “An ever increasing proportion of the population is looking to rent. By 2025, we know that there will be a 1.8m shortfall in rental properties and that could mean a rise in homelessness. It will be hard enough for those young professionals who cannot afford to buy to find a rental home, but for those on the breadline who cannot provide the usual spread of credit references, it could prove impossible.
“The introduction of a rental database will provide a credible alternative to the tenant-funded credit checks that the government is proposing to scrap, putting more vulnerable members of society on a more level pegging with more affluent peers by reducing the likelihood of discrimination.”
Similar pilots are being successfully trialled across England. For example, Kettering Borough Council offers a voluntary tenant passport scheme for those currently in social housing who wish to move into private rented accommodation. This allows potential landlords to see that they have been good tenants, even though they may have poor credit history.
• To send feedback, email amber.rolt@estatesgazette.com or tweet @amberrolt or @estatesgazette
