Since October 2008 Landlord’s have been required to provide an energy performance certificate.  Prior to that date legislation was introduced to require Landlords to provide a gas saftey certificate and join a tenancy deposit scheme.  Now the government is considering requiring all Landlords to obtain a licence at a cost of £50.  The idea is that a Landlord cannot let a property without being licensed and can have his licence revoked if for example he fails to carry out any necessary repairs.

If this helps to weed out unscrupulous Landlords fair enough, but it will of course be the tenants who bear the cost by way of increased rent!