I don't think London's rental market problems can be solved by startups, at least not beyond what's already been achieved.
The Deposit Protection Scheme was introduced in 2007, and that made a huge difference. Landlords could no longer expect to steal deposits.
There's already schemes to license landlords renting a "House for Multiple Occupancy", whose definition varies by area. Typically, it's 3 or more people who aren't related to each other. This should be extended to all landlords.
I lived in an illegally converted flat for a year, though I didn't realise it. At the end of the year, an inspector from the council appeared, and said there shouldn't be a "37A", "37B", "37C", but just a "37". The house had been converted without planning permission _fifteen years earlier_.
3 million Londoners weren't born in the UK, and in my experience are less aware of the rights they do have. I don't know how to solve that one.
But 39% of Tory MPs, and 22% of Labour MPs, are landlords, so I don't expect the situation to change. [1]
Symbiote|10 years ago
The Deposit Protection Scheme was introduced in 2007, and that made a huge difference. Landlords could no longer expect to steal deposits.
There's already schemes to license landlords renting a "House for Multiple Occupancy", whose definition varies by area. Typically, it's 3 or more people who aren't related to each other. This should be extended to all landlords.
I lived in an illegally converted flat for a year, though I didn't realise it. At the end of the year, an inspector from the council appeared, and said there shouldn't be a "37A", "37B", "37C", but just a "37". The house had been converted without planning permission _fifteen years earlier_.
3 million Londoners weren't born in the UK, and in my experience are less aware of the rights they do have. I don't know how to solve that one.
But 39% of Tory MPs, and 22% of Labour MPs, are landlords, so I don't expect the situation to change. [1]
[1] http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/jan/14/mp-la...
elcct|10 years ago
Not a council house
Was not previously occupied by criminals
It doesn't have elderly neighbours
No kebab / chicken shops within x metres
NLips|10 years ago
Or do you really mean not a council house, in which case the question is "what letting agents are advertising current council houses?"
smcl|10 years ago
efaref|10 years ago