Organisation voices its fears over Selective Licensing future

Organisation voices its fears over Selective Licensing future

0:03 AM, 6th March 2024, About 10 months ago 6

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A professional organisation has voiced its fears over the fate of selective licensing in the UK after the government pledged to look at Renters (Reform) Bill proposals.

The licensing schemes operate within designated areas where privately rented properties must obtain licenses from local authorities.

However, an amendment proposed by Conservative backbenchers as part of the Bill threatens to strip local housing authorities of their ability to designate areas for selective licensing.

That will, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) says, threaten PRS standards.

Proactively inspect a PRS home

It warns that CIEH says that selective licensing offers the only way for a council to proactively inspect a PRS home without tenants having to complain.

The organisation‘s executive director, Louise Hosking, said: “We are concerned by suggestions that the proposed Property Portal removes the need for selective licensing schemes.

“Licensing is a systematic and proactive approach to improving housing standards rather than just collection of information.”

She added: “We believe that the Government, far from watering down selective licensing, should be removing unnecessary barriers to local authorities using licensing schemes to improve housing standards.”


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Cider Drinker

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10:43 AM, 6th March 2024, About 10 months ago

Do the CIEH understand that it is the tenants that pay the fees (through higher rents). Good tenants with good landlords in good houses pay the same as bad tenants in bad houses with bad landlords.
It’s a lazy way to enforce better standards and is seen for it really is - a money making scam by hard-pressed Councils to help balance their overspending.
At least be honest. Make the tenants pay the licensing fee directly to the Council.

Reluctant Landlord

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11:37 AM, 6th March 2024, About 10 months ago

all this will do is push councils into increasing SL so ultimately the government don't have to increase what they give them. The government cant be accused of not giving enough money to councils. Basically, cash cow there - now go milk it yourself.
Its all done under the banner of 'better standards' which we all know is a crock of ....
The irony is that councils wont be going into any property 'proactively' - they don't have the staff or time and if they don't think they are going to find anything it's a waste of resources. Birmingham council have told me they wont be looking at visiting as standard (despite what the 5 year licence states that every property will be visited at least once during the 5 year period), just where tenant complaints have been made and taking it from there.
Government are just pushing for landlords to pay the councils another form of local tax so they don't come begging at their door. Government walks away saying down to councils to ensure high housing standards in private rentals in their area and they have the means and money to do this.....

John MacAlevey

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13:56 PM, 6th March 2024, About 10 months ago

The single greatest influence causing my clients to pack-in the PRS completely..well done HMG..uninformed & incompetant.

Chris @ Possession Friend

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14:13 PM, 6th March 2024, About 10 months ago

What will the next hair-brained idea be, sending inspectors out to examine a product AFTER you've bought it to ensure your happy and don't have to make any complaints !

83% of Tenants are satisfied.
" If it ain't broke, don't fix it. "

Of course the cost of such inspections would be added to the product ( surprise, surprise )

Mick Roberts

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15:38 PM, 6th March 2024, About 10 months ago

I put this on LinkedIn and she has been in touch, not spoke verbally yet, but let's hope we do, as these people and organisations press ahead without coming to talk to the tenants affected and no clue whatsoever the cheap rents many tenants are paying.

Louise A Hosking U mean well, but u have no idea of how many tenants Nottingham City Council Selective Licensing makes homeless. It creates a problem where there wasn't one. Increases rents massively. Is it worth it to find 1 bad houses?
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) ought to come ask my tenants and any tenants in Selective Licensing area what they thought of it. As it does find a few bad houses. However, it makes many many more tenants homeless and increases rents massively. Not just to pay for the cost of the scheme, but remaining landlords then notice humongous supply and think Ooh I can charge what I like now-Thank u Selective Licensing

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mick-roberts-landlord-436280ab_plans-to-end-selective-licencing-concerning-activity-7170662259684282368-Jq2W?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

Yvonne Halliday

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16:14 PM, 6th March 2024, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by John MacAlevey at 06/03/2024 - 13:56
100% agree that is why I sold my 5 properties. It was too stressful dealing with Liverpool Council.

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