We are used to stories of councils condemning letting agents and landlords – but now a London council is praising the lettings sector.

Ealing council has come out with the support for the sector following news that it has more properly accredited landlords and managing agents than any other borough in London.

Some 1,186 Ealing landlords and agents have achieved accredited status with the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme, which recognises property professionals who have the skills needed to properly manage their rental homes.

The number of LLAS-accredited landlords in Ealing has shot up by 45 per cent in the last two years and is almost twice the London average.

Established in 2004, the LLAS requires landlords to go on a one-day course where they learn about the significant issues they could encounter in their rental business. 

In addition to training and development, accredited landlords are entitled to various benefits, including a discount if their Ealing rental property requires a licence.

Councillor Joanna Camadoo, Ealing council’s lead member for community safety and inclusion, says: “This is great news for Ealing. The overwhelming majority of landlords in Ealing are decent, law-abiding people who play a hugely important role in the local housing market. Proper accreditation is an important tool in the continuing drive to improve standards in the private rented sector.

“We will not tolerate any landlord or managing agent who causes misery for tenants and puts them at risk. We will continue to root out the tiny minority of unscrupulous landlords who give the rest of their profession a bad name.”