I don't think London's rental market problems can be solved by startups, at least not beyond what's already been achieved.
The Deposit Protection Scheme was introduced in 2007, and that made a huge difference. Landlords could no longer expect to steal deposits.
There's already schemes to license landlords renting a "House for Multiple Occupancy", whose definition varies by area. Typically, it's 3 or more people who aren't related to each other. This should be extended to all landlords.
I lived in an illegally converted flat for a year, though I didn't realise it. At the end of the year, an inspector from the council appeared, and said there shouldn't be a "37A", "37B", "37C", but just a "37". The house had been converted without planning permission _fifteen years earlier_.
3 million Londoners weren't born in the UK, and in my experience are less aware of the rights they do have. I don't know how to solve that one.
But 39% of Tory MPs, and 22% of Labour MPs, are landlords, so I don't expect the situation to change. [1]
Everyone can be difficult - I rented a room in London where the guy below us had a habit of playing shooter games on his home cinema system around 10-11 pm. During those hours, it felt like living in the warzone (constant loud explosions, shooting etc.)
That is true, but I found out that issues with living among elderly neighbours are much more troubling. So I would like to filter that out if I was ever to look for a flat again.
The Deposit Protection Scheme was introduced in 2007, and that made a huge difference. Landlords could no longer expect to steal deposits.
There's already schemes to license landlords renting a "House for Multiple Occupancy", whose definition varies by area. Typically, it's 3 or more people who aren't related to each other. This should be extended to all landlords.
I lived in an illegally converted flat for a year, though I didn't realise it. At the end of the year, an inspector from the council appeared, and said there shouldn't be a "37A", "37B", "37C", but just a "37". The house had been converted without planning permission _fifteen years earlier_.
3 million Londoners weren't born in the UK, and in my experience are less aware of the rights they do have. I don't know how to solve that one.
But 39% of Tory MPs, and 22% of Labour MPs, are landlords, so I don't expect the situation to change. [1]
[1] http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/jan/14/mp-la...