Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Team from a report by Landlord Today. Read the original article for full details.
Housing Ombudsman Service to Operate New PRS Ombudsman
The government has revealed which body will run the new Private Rental Sector Ombudsman. The existing Housing Ombudsman Service, which currently provides mandatory redress for social housing tenants, will set up and operate the service.
The disclosure came in response to questions from two Labour MPs. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed the government's intention in his reply.
Pennycook stated: "The government's intention is that the existing Housing Ombudsman Service, which currently provides mandatory redress for social housing tenants, will set up and operate the service."
The new ombudsman will be mandatory for all landlords, according to the report. Letting agents and inventory clerks in the private rented sector will therefore need to understand the forthcoming redress scheme and what it means for their work with landlord clients.
The Housing Ombudsman Service already handles disputes for social housing tenants on a mandatory basis. Its expansion into the private rental sector is a significant development for the sector, though the source report disclosed no further operational details.
No timeline, fee structure, or implementation date was included in the source material. The Property AI will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Source: Landlord Today