Morning Briefing: London councils sign up to rogue landlord database

In the news

All the London boroughs have signed up to a “name and shame” database of rogue landlords, set up by the mayor of London, the BBC reports.

Through the database renters will be able to check if their landlord has any convictions.

Most of the nationals have covered the moment in the Grenfell Inquiry commemoration hearings yesterday when people fled from the room sobbing as footage of the tower burning was shown without warning. The BBC said a woman reportedly collapsed outside, while The Telegraph said the inquiry “descended into chaos”.

You can read Inside Housing’s account of the day here.

The Telegraph has an interesting story this morning. It reports that one in four owners of a Help to Buy home already own a home. The scheme is intended to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder, but existing property owners accounted for 24% of Help to Buy mortgage completions since the scheme was launched in 2013.

The majority of UK homes will be linked to the fastest broadband in existence within seven years, Philip Hammond has announced. The Independent reports that the chancellor was due to say at a CBI dinner last night that the full fibre broadband, which is 40 times faster than superfast internet, will be rolled out in a bid to prepare the country for Brexit.

The Guardian has an interesting feature looking at GPs who are helping rough sleeprs by keeping tabs on their health. Since 2013 almost 300 rough sleeprs have died on the streets and in temporary accommodation.

First-time buyers in London are now paying double what is charged in other parts of the country to get on the property ladder, reports The Independent.

The figures from Lloyds Bank show the average price of a first-time buyer home in the capital has risen by two-thirds over the past five years to hit £420,132, compared with an average of £210,515 in the rest of the country.

A contentious plan to build homes on green belt land has been given approval by Hertsmere Borough Council. Hightown Housing Association put forward the planning application to build 55 new properties that will be “100% affordable”.

The Watford Observer reports that councillors voted 6-4 in favour, with objections over the plan to use green belt land.

On social media

The chair of the G15 has welcomed the new rogue landlord database in London:

This is a very welcome initiative, given how many households are now dependent upon private rented sector. Too many suffer at the hands of unscrupulous landlords. Great that the GLA is showing leadership to protect tenants. #ukhousing t.co/bK8FzWYULg

— Paul Hackett (@PaulHackett10)

This is a very welcome initiative, given how many households are now dependent upon private rented sector. Too many suffer at the hands of unscrupulous landlords. Great that the GLA is showing leadership to protect tenants. #ukhousing https://t.co/bK8FzWYULg

— Paul Hackett (@PaulHackett10) May 23, 2018