Ms Kathryn Ward:

Yes, they do. When a local authority carries out an inspection of a property and provides a list of issues that need to be addressed the local authority officers re-inspect that property to ensure the necessary work has been carried out. There is a legal avenue available to the local authority officers through which they can pursue landlords for failing to meet standards. We have a very good relationship with a number of local authorities. Many local authorities check our published register to see if a tenancy is registered. If they find there is a tenancy in existence that is not on our register they refer the matter to us. We will then follow up from a registration point of view with those landlords. Where that engagement happens there is great success. It would be great if we could get to a stage where all of the local authorities carrying out inspections would likewise engage with us. If a landlord does not comply and register with the board we can take him or her to court, which can result in a criminal conviction.