Croydon yet another area to introduce Selective Licensing

Its going to cut up rough because councils are getting new powers to criminalise private landlords and issue huge fines, this is a tremendous privilege in a democracy, councils have some hurdles to jump before granting themselves those powers, they have to make a compelling case - during the process you want everyone to be reasonable polite etc, that simply isnt going to happen, for some their very liberty and livelihoods are at stake, they'll percieve the risk to themselves differently to you, they'll swear, fight and take no prisoners - all standard human responses, either get used to it or seek something more sedate.

Reply to the comment left by "John Daley" at "22/08/2014 - 15:44":

Hi John

I wonder how many of the discussion about landlord licencing you have actually read on this forum. You may not be popular on this forum because of your current views but I, for one, am very glad that you are here.

To understand the level of sentiment regarding selective licensing and what you are up against I suggest you read some of the following discussion threads. Many of the most experienced front line Council Offers disagree with it and are offering far better alternatives - so is Boris. Why is so few listening?

Here's a starter selection of articles and discussions here on Property118 which will hopefully provide you with some additional perspective:-

Landlord Licensing Schemes – Raising Standards or Raising Funds? - See >>> http://www.property118.com/landlord-licensing-schemes-raising-standards-or-raising-funds/42155/

Enforcement not legislation – PRS Hit Squads - see >>> http://www.property118.com/enforcement-not-legislation-prs-hit-squads/43894/

Milton Keynes abandon Selective Licensing - see >>> http://www.property118.com/milton-keynes-abandon-selective-licensing/64511/

Ipswich Council refunding landlord licensing fees after Westminster Court of Appeal sex shop case - see >>> http://www.property118.com/ipswich-council-refunding-landlord-licensing-fees/63624/

HMO Licensing Fees – Oxford Council Humiliated - see >>> http://www.property118.com/hmo-licensing-fees/33761/

Is landlord licensing a pointless exercise? - see >>> http://www.property118.com/landlord-licensing-pointless-exercise/40341/
.

I have just had notification from the NLA that the Southwark Council meeting tomorrow has been cancelled "for reasons beyond control of the NLA"

If I find out more I will post it here.

Past experience of meetings at Southwark is that the Southwark guys always get something of a bruising from some landlords. Hope there was not a fear of that happening even more this time, and it was not th which led to the cancellation.

Shame, as despite a very busy time at present, I was going to go down and ask some pretty direct questions myself.

Main question I have is why if Ben at Lewisham Council's enforcement say they know who all rogue landlords are and where their properties are, how is it that Southwark (right next door in London) don't and need a licensing scheme to find them.

David Lawrenson
LettingFocus.com

Reply to the comment left by "Mark Alexander" at "22/08/2014 - 16:47":

Mark, This is a particularly good example of why this site is so important.....(ref Naive questions from Landlords?) the level of informed debate on this thread is exceptional and will without doubt inform policy and practice in LAs where consideration is being given to selective v additional licensing schemes. Aylesbury Vale has just introduced additional licensing, and I know that the EHO has been reading this thread!

Reply to the comment left by "Mark Crampton Smith" at "27/08/2014 - 15:58":

Let's hope he becomes a member and shares his perspective, whatever it might be, we can all learn something by listening to and debating with others
.

Reply to the comment left by "David Lawrenson" at "27/08/2014 - 15:57":

Council in Southwark not happy that NLA going against them and opposing licensing at a joint meeting and withdrew the meeting room.
Not keen to debate issue until consultation out.
Then when consultation out, they may still not debate it, just take points on board by email, I hear.

Even Sir Robin at Newham stood up and took questions there.
To me it seems that Southwark appear "frit" *

David Lawrenson
LettingFocus.com
* Frit - odd word from Lincolnshire, once used famously used by Mrs Thatcher in a House of Commons debate.... "The honourable gentleman is frit, frit, frit"

frit is a wonderful word, as is accountability - all councils need to be that esp if new criminal sanctions are being proposed

Reply to the comment left by "David Lawrenson" at "27/08/2014 - 16:14":

Surely if the proposed scheme is such a good thing for landlords, the NLA could have easily been persuaded and if it's SO good, why not showcase it in any event?

Just to clarify, the cancelled meeting at Southwark was due to be on 4th Sept, not tomorrow, as my earlier post said.
Hope no confusion on this.

D

Reply to the comment left by "chris wright" at "27/08/2014 - 16:28":

Tut, tut Chris and David - that isn't very nice, is it??

Seriously, it's been said by someone on here, who has taken very much the opposing view on SL, that comments have been rude, unfair and even amounted to trolling, while he initially started out by letting us think he was simply a landlord in favour of licensing.

I believe most people who contribute to Property 118 would never knowingly write any inappropriate comments or deliberately mislead, and I've no doubt Mark or Neil would moderate out anything even remotely rude.

If you want to witness a bear pit on issues to do with housing and property, I suggest checking out the comment forums of any landlord/tenant articles published by the Guardian, where private landlords (of all types, save maybe those who rent their spare room) are savaged by people who don't know the first thing about letting property.