Landlords within the Property118 community have reported receiving threats from aggrieved tenants, including death threats, intimidation, and unwanted visits to their homes. One landlord stated that police recorded threats to kill them and burn down their properties, while another described threatening phone calls and a grievance pursued to a former family home. An original correspondent alleged a tenant sabotaged their car's brakes.
These accounts have prompted questions regarding the government's forthcoming Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database. The database requires individual landlords to provide personal details such as their name, date of birth, residential address, telephone number, and email address. The government's guidance indicates a list of publicly accessible information will be published later.
Concerns have been raised about the potential public accessibility of sensitive personal data, and how these arrangements will comply with UK GDPR. Landlords are asking for clarity on which details will be visible, who can access them, and what safeguards will be in place, especially for those with documented histories of threats.
Some landlords have indicated they may sell their properties due to these concerns, with some already having done so after frightening experiences. This uncertainty about personal security, alongside rising costs and obligations, could lead to fewer homes available for rent and landlords becoming less willing to take on new tenants.