查看房东出租许可证¶
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How to check a landlord's rental license in the UK and what are the responsibilities of landlords?
So, how can you check a landlord's rental license in the UK?
(1) London Area
This mainly refers to properties in the London area. First, open the official website where you can perform the search
Note: There are certain situations where you cannot use the website platform to check if a property has a rental license. Before checking if a rental license is required for a property by entering the property's postal code, please ensure:
(1) You are not a tenant of the council or a housing association.
(2) In the property being searched, at least one person pays rent.
(3) The property is not solely occupied by the owner and/or their family members.
(4) The property is not solely occupied by one permanent resident and a maximum of two lodgers.
Next, enter the postal code of the rental property on the opened webpage.
输入邮编后，就可以选择对应的房屋地址
Note: It is essential to ensure that this is a privately rented property.
After selecting the address, you can choose the number of tenants living in the property. The first row represents one tenant, and the second row represents two or more tenants.
Then, continue following the process and the platform will automatically inform you whether your property requires a rental license. For example, if it is not required, it will directly indicate that no license is needed. If a rental license is required, it will specify the type of license needed for the property.
As shown in the diagram below, it displays the result after completing the search, indicating that the property does not require a license.
As shown in the diagram below, it displays the type of license required for the property after completing the search
After completing the search, if the result indicates that a license is required, you can click on the link provided in the screenshot. This link directly connects you to the local council's website, where you can find detailed instructions on how to check if the landlord has the required license.
Once you click on the link, you will be prompted to enter the required information.
Note: Some local councils may offer online search options, while for certain properties, you may need to contact the council directly. This is because of specific registration methods or other related issues. However, inquiring with the council directly will provide more accurate information, especially when determining whether the property falls under the category requiring a rental license.
If your rented property does require a license but the landlord doesn't have one, you can report it to the local government. The reporting can be done through the link provided after querying the local council or by contacting the local council directly.
Note: Generally, landlords with a valid license can issue a "Section 21 notice" to tenants without providing any specific reason, as the contract nears its expiration. The Section 21 notice initiates the eviction process, meaning that after the landlord issues this notice to the tenant, they can legally evict the tenant after a two-month period.
On the contrary, if the property is eligible for a license but the landlord hasn't obtained one, the eviction process becomes invalid. Moreover, during the period when the property doesn't have the correct rental license, the tenant may have the right to apply for a rent repayment order, which is a financial decision made by an adjudicator, requiring the landlord to repay rent for a period of up to 12 months.
Additionally, if your landlord hasn't obtained the appropriate rental license, they may face enforcement action from the local council.
（2）
For non-London areas, simply contact the local council or government directly.
However, generally speaking, a rental license or permit is typically required only if there are more than three tenants in the same property. In addition to this, specific types of properties or certain areas may also require an application. Therefore, it is advisable to use the local council's resources to verify whether the rented property requires a rental license or permit.