The letter says Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) will offer a number of benefits including the elimination of unscrupulous landlords, greater protection for tenants
An open letter from more than 50 organisations operating within the residential property sector has been published calling on the government to roll-out Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs)
Addressed to housing secretary Robert Jenrick, the letter says UPRNs will offer a number of benefits including the elimination of unscrupulous landlords, greater protection for tenants, better enforcement of housing standards and faster and simpler property sales.
Organised by The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC) and the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRMP), the letter is also backed by many estate agents and industry organisations including the Property Redress Scheme, NRLA, RICS, Knight Frank, Savills, Hunters, Countrywide and Foxtons.
Andrew Bulmer, CEO of the IRPM, commented: The UPRN is like attaching a number plate to a car, instead we attach a unique number to all things related to properties so that each property can be uniquely identified with unparalleled accuracy.
He added: If all the conditions outlined in the letter were to be met, we could proactively work towards the wholesale adoption of the UPRN.
Theresa Wallace, founder of TLIC, believes that that “widespread adoption of UPRN’s could revolutionise the property market”.
This is a really exciting initiative which has industry support and we now need the government to add theirs, she added.
As one of the signatories of the letter alongside other leading bodies from across the residential property sector, Knight Frank is among those that believe the wide market adoption of the UPRN will deliver substantial benefits to UK society, the residential property sector and to government.
Beverley Kennard, associate and operations manager at Knight Frank, commented: A Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) is allocated to a property by local authorities and means that a full history of the property is available, regardless of if the address changes. The use of UPRNs will bring real benefits to the residential property sector and landlords and tenants.
