Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, said the private rented sector needed to be "professionalised" to stop landlords letting their properties fall into disrepair and lead to problems such as antisocial behaviour.
Those who failed to meet certain standards could be struck off, while the cost of administering the register could be paid for by making landlords pay a small charge.
The register would also help local authorities determine how many private rented properties there were in a particular area.
Click here to read the full story MP calls for register of landlords because 'most are amateurs'
NetRent Comment
Calls for a national register of landlords are nothing new. Scotland has had a register for years and the rest of the UK has lagged behind. The last Government issued various promises that they would introduce a register and the Welsh Assembly Government has also said it would like to impose a landlord register.
The problem with previous discussions about a landlord register for England and Wales is that the proposals were far too complicated. The concept of a landlord register also demands that there is some degree of policing of the register otherwise it is pointless to introduce it. The proposal was that it would be local authorities who would manage and police the register in their area.
Local authorities are now facing huge budget cuts and housing support is one area many local authorities will look to make savings. This means that there will be fewer qualified people who are able to police a landlord register.
However, Phil Wilson is correct, most landlords are 'amateurs'. It is estimated that there are over 1 million landlords in the UK and the overwhelming number of these own one or two properties.
There are over 70 pieces of legislation which affect landlords and we know from our discussions with landlords that a significant number have little or no idea how these laws affect them. Consequently a large number of landlords are not renting safely or legally.
The fact is that far too many landlords ignore or are unaware of basic requirements such as tenant deposits, EPCs, gas certificates and electrical testing. Local authorities struggle to impose these regulations because they cannot identify landlords and as a result tenants are put at risk.
In our opinion this register has no chance of becoming law in the foreseeable future, but, the lettings industry has to realise that the public will continue to view suspiciously any industry which refuses to act professionally and ignores legislation. A voluntary code will not work simply because it will not include the worst culprits.
A simple, properly constituted and cheap landlord register would enable landlords to demonstrate that they comply with legislation and enable local authorities to target and deal with the minority of landlords flaunt the law. Whilst we know that many landlords will not share our view we believe that a national landlord register is long overdue and should be implemented urgently.
