A landlord has reported being charged a £1,000 licensing fee by Westminster Council for their rental property. The landlord stated that all necessary documentation has been provided to the council and acknowledged.
The landlord also questioned the requirement to register the same information on a national database, which incurs an additional £65 annual fee. The landlord expressed concern that the national database may not be utilised effectively and views it as a form of taxation.
The landlord suggested that the cumulative impact of these fees, along with other costs such as covering tenant defaults and legal fees, is contributing to an increase in rental prices. The landlord also raised concerns that small landlords may be forced to sell properties to larger landlords due to these regulations.