What is a Lead Authority?
It appears that there is some confusion about the concept of “lead authority”. This is simply an administrative convenience for the initial stage of application. It should be made absolutely clear to landlords that they have to register in every authority where they have property. If the landlord applies on paper he or she has to apply separately to each authority. If the landlord applies online, the system will automatically identify a “lead authority”. This authority will get the full principal fee, and will send out a copy of the landlord’s details, listing all properties, to sign and return as written confirmation of details and of the formal declaration. That is the end of the “lead authority” role. After that each authority makes its own decisions, sends separate notifications etc, dealing with the property in its area.
