Landlords can now check online to see if their properties need licensing under local council rules following a deal signed between the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and proptech firm Kamma. 

Its platform offers users instant and accurate online property licensing information and to date has been used mainly by letting agents. But its service will now be available to landlords direct if they are a member of the NRLA. 

The trade body’s partnership deal with Kamma means the NRLA’s advice line team can conduct a postcode search via its new search engine to tell landlords whether there are particular licensing requirements in their area. 

Also, Kamma’s licensing application service will significantly reduce the amount of time NRLA members typically spend gathering information and background for local authority licence applications. 

The demand for services like this among agents and landlords is growing – each year dozens of local authorities launch new selective and HMO licensing schemes, often covering thousands of rented properties in one go. 

Penalties for non-compliance can be severe. As well as fines averaging nearly £4,000 per transgression, if an HMO is not licenced properly then tenants can claim back their rent for up to 12 months via a Property Tribunal.