The government has moved closer to introducing a mandatory ombudsman scheme which private landlords must join by releasing information to enable companies to tender for the role of delivering the scheme.
This is effectively the first step to implementing some of the proposals expected to be included in the Renters Reform Bill, set to enter Parliament later this year. The landlords’ Ombudsman will be separate to the redress schemes which agents can join. The Ombudsman scheme for landlords will be mandatory for all landlords in the PRS, even if their properties are managed by a lettings agency.
The government has published what is called a ‘Pre-Tender Market Engagement request’. The purpose of this is to seek information in preparation for finding a supplier who would manage the scheme.
In its note to potential suppliers, the government 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 recognize 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 the government’s decision on the route to market.
This process is merely to start to visualise and define the possible shape and powers of an Ombudsman. Once this process in complete, the government will then define the details of the scheme and be in a position to put it out to full tender.
We will bring you more details as they emerge next week.
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