Selective licensing schemes see landlord costs soar – Direct Line

Selective licensing schemes see landlord costs soar – Direct Line

0:05 AM, 7th August 2024, About 10 hours ago 2

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Landlords across England are facing an increasingly heavy financial burden as local councils ramp up selective licensing schemes, research reveals.

English councils are charging landlords almost £700 on average to obtain mandatory selective licenses, with costs varying wildly across the country.

According to the study by Direct Line, Leicester city council tops the list with a £1,290 fee, while Ashfield district council charges the least at £350.

Selective licensing schemes have seen a significant increase in councils taking them up.

Important that landlords comply

Sarah Casey, the head of landlord insurance at Direct Line business insurance, said: “It’s important that landlords comply with all appropriate legislation as anyone not doing so could face a hefty fine.

“Our analysis shows significant regional variations in landlord licensing costs and a growing burden from fines for non-compliance.

“Anyone planning on becoming a landlord, or who already has a property portfolio, should check with their local authority to see if they have a scheme in place.”

47 councils now have schemes

Direct Line says that 47 councils now enforce these schemes, up 10% from the schemes running in 2022.

Councils are also generating substantial revenue, with more than £20 million collected in 2023, a staggering 80% rise from the previous year.

It says that Liverpool raised more than £5 million of this total

Landlords failing to comply face severe penalties, including fines of up to £10,000.

Burnley issued the largest fines

The study shows that Burnley borough council has issued the largest fines, while Waltham Forest and Middlesbrough recorded the highest number of licensing offences.

Despite the financial impact, some councils have closed their schemes since 2020 saying that housing conditions had improved under the licensing regime.

The areas include Hartlepool, Sheffield, and Coventry.


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Cider Drinker

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9:22 AM, 7th August 2024, About 50 minutes ago

The country is virtually bankrupt. Councils are virtually bankrupt.

It should come as no surprise that private tenants are once again being indirectly attacked to make up the shortfall in Council funding.

We may have expected from the Conservatives but is it concerning to see Labour continue with the attacks on the poorest in Society. Pensioners, tenants, who is next in the list? Maybe they will take away disability benefits or free school meals?

Reluctant Landlord

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10:07 AM, 7th August 2024, About 5 minutes ago

Just add the cost of the licence to the rental bill and let the tenants know this is exactly why rents are increasing.

Send them the email address of the local councillor AND MP and tell them to take the issue up with them.

I also send them the link to show that the local councillor was one of the people who voted in favour of demanding a licence be required for all private rentals in that area.

LL's need to get the message to tenants we don't have a choice but to comply or we can't let the house to them at all. Tenants are very quick to assume it's the landlord always making demands when it is clearly not!

Forget NRLA, they only protect their own interests (which directly feed off the uncertainty in the PRS which they are also contributing to)

Time PRS LL's started educating tenants themselves as to what is really going on!

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