One of the leading agency figures in the lettings industry backs the government’s new rental database – but wants agents to be heavily involved.

Allison Thompson, chief lettings officer at the LRG agency group, says the greater transparency facilitated by the database should give tenants confidence that their landlord is legitimate and compliant.

But she cautions that the success of the register will depend heavily on the detail. 

“Landlords will be required to provide a substantial amount of information and documentation and at present we do not have complete guidance on how letting agents will be able to support them” she says. 

“For landlords with larger portfolios in particular, a system which relies heavily on manual input could create a considerable administrative burden, in addition to a cost burden. 

“We would like to see the process designed so that agents can play a meaningful role and ultimately for it to integrate more effectively with the systems the industry already uses.”

Thompson says privacy is another important consideration. 

She continues: “The database will necessarily contain significant personal and property information, so landlords need clarity about exactly what will be visible to tenants and the wider public, what will remain private and how that information will be protected. 

“I do wonder whether all of the information requested, such as a date of birth, is relevant for this purpose.”

She concludes that the principle of the register is a good one, and the regional rollout gives the industry time to prepare. 

“The priority now must be getting the practical detail right so that the register improves standards without creating unnecessary complexity for the landlords who are already doing the right thing.”