Landlord Reform Process Underway

The initial move towards introducing a mandatory ombudsman scheme for private landlords has been taken by the government. This marks the first step in implementing some of the expected proposals to be featured in the upcoming Renters Reform Bill, which is scheduled to be introduced in Parliament later this year. It should be noted that the landlords' Ombudsman will be distinct from the redress schemes available for agents.

In preparation for finding a supplier to manage the scheme, the government has released a Pre-Tender Market Engagement request to gather relevant information.

The government's proposal, officially known as the 'Private Rented Sector (PRS) Landlord Ombudsman scheme,' has been outlined in detail.

It says: “The Ombudsman scheme will be mandatory for all private landlords in England. It will provide redress and dispute resolution to all private rented sector tenants by an independent person, in accordance with the terms of the arrangements with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.”

It says the Pre-Tender Market Engagement is to gather information to:

“- help define the service specification for the Ombudsman;

“- help provide a better understanding of the feasibility of the requirement;

“- understand the best approach to introduce and implement the Ombudsman;

“- understand the capacity of the market to deliver and possible risks involved;

“- inform value for money considerations undertaken by the Authority;

“- provide the market with an opportunity to ask questions, raise queries and any issues to be addressed at an early stage;

“- inform potential delivery timescales of the Ombudsman;

“- inform our decision on the route to market.”

This process is merely to ‘scope’ the possible shape and powers of an ombudsman and the government insists it is “separate to any later procurement exercise.”