What does Selective Licencing actually achieve?

Yes good point Mark.
Our local News tv programme has the Council team on talking how Selective Licensing is going to be good & then had this diabolical house on they had caught the Landlord.
Hang on a minute, they'd caught this Landlord a week before Selective Licensing was even in. So don't need Licensing to catch bad Landlords.
All the bad landlords han't applied. They staying quiet.
Yes Mark, that's we're saying, they took loads of people on, on 25ish k a year. WITH OUR MONEY. My tenants money who have now got wait for funds to build back up before they can have their NEEDED kitchen NEEDED boiler.
The amount of Landlords selling in Nottingham is shocking. Landlady in America who's had tenant for 7 years, both happy with each other, she's got to sell 'cause she can't comply with the License application & rules. Licensing's answer is Get someone in UK to apply instead. Real common sense answer is Why not leave them alone as they are, both parties happy.
I've told Licensing the same as u. It's just one step too far. We've had Benefit cap, Clause 24, And now Licensing decides to come in Nottingham 3 months before Universal Credit comes. These Nottingham Labour Councillors Jon Collins & Jane Urquhart must be proper thick & not have an ounce of common sense.
They said Oh no rents won't have to go up. Won't they? Aah right, virtually everyone is increasing rents & 80% of tenants are on the Landlords side against Selective Licensing.
I've done Freedom of Information request on Homeless Bill in Nottingham for the past year & can't wait to see the bill next year.
Someone correct me on this, but biggest Licensing scheme in UK was Newham 5 years ago. And who has the biggest homeless bill now? Yes Whoopee doo Einstein Councillor, it's Newham.
Larry, correct. We have to go online to get EPC we don't need. Why can't tenant if they need one? I've not been asked for one in the 10 11 years or since they've been required.
Text from my comment to Licensing about my FOI:
There is many questions unanswered, one being my roads with no trouble, no complaints, no ASBO’s. The Govt has said they would like areas removed from Licensing once the area has improved. Well mine wasn't’ in need of improvement to start with?
I've asked you this 129 times, what are we doing about my no trouble roads?
http://www.selectivelicensingtruth.co.uk

Hello Mark, I am very impressed with the way that Property 118 can communicate with many landlords instantly. It seems that the NLA in particular has no stomach for supporting landlords in legislative matters. Ihowz (previously Southern landlords association) is preparing a judicial review against Brighton council in relation to unlawful introduction of licensing schemes. This is only possible if a few people are able to underwrite the substantial costs. No other landlord groups appear to be supporting their members against being put out of business. Only by getting large numbers of landlords operating together will we have any effect on legislation, and I believe that your website is potentially a perfect vehicle.
I am pleased to see that you are taking a stand against unfair and probably illegal taxation and licensing practises which are being imposed by councils and government. You and my 50 tenants have your full support and I encourage you to continue with such action that strengthens landlords position and so they can provide good quality housing that does not cost the earth.

Reply to the comment left by Tom Tennant - REIT Providor at 09/08/2018 - 12:46
"Council have used the licensing to greatly improve this part of town"

If you're on about Cliftonville, they threw the kitchen sink of resources at it. Whether any improvement can be attributed to licensing is debateable.

Besides which, this was* a problem area of just 30 streets, some councils are abusing their power to blanket license entire cities.

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 09/08/2018 - 14:49* when I say 'was' a problem area, the council must think it still is a problem area as they have renewed the scheme for a further 5 years. So after chucking everything at this tiny area, it will have taken 10 years to resolve. Assuming they don't renew again for another 5 years, and another 5 years, and another 5 years....

I spoke to community police officer re crime etc in one area in Liverpool.
Officer said that problem happens when a distant landlord company buys say 10 properties in a street and then does not manage anti social behavior, rubbish on street.
Pointed him towards licensing and powers that LCC have to fine such landlords, he was unaware of the powers of LCC and would try and progress actions vs such landlords.
There does seem to be a divide between problems in London and over crowding rental properties. Somehow the North is suffering because of landlord practices in some areas of the South

Reply to the comment left by Gayle Tregaskis at 10/08/2018 - 09:45
Even so, it is NOT the LLs responsibility to manage any anti-social behaviour of the tenants...that is what the authorities (who, incidentally, hold the powers) are for. Perhaps we should be imposing massive fines on the Police and Local Authority if they are not capable. Place them in special measures or allow the people to spend the budget. Stop shifting the blame. I think there is this belief by those not particular understanding of the process of eviction, that a LL can say: "Start behaving or you'll be out!" with no appreciation for the length of time (not to mention effort and money) it takes and the fact the situation will very likely be exacerbated by the starting of the (long) eviction process. You wouldn't blame a hire car company for a reckless driver or if it was used in a bank robbery...they're an innocent, even duped, victim in such circumstances.

Hello

Selective licensing is a useful tool in certain situations.

The Housing Act 2004 Part 3 section 80 (1) gives a local housing authority the power to designate areas as subject to selective licensing if certain requirements in section 80 (2) to (9) are met.

Section 80 (6) requirement in summary is that:
'the area is experiencing a significant and persistent problem caused by antisocial behaviour';
some private landlords are failing to take action to take appropriate action; and
that making a designation combined with other measures by local housing authority, or by other persons with local housing authority, lead to a reduction or elimination of the problem.

Liverpool City Council has as part of its license conditions an antisocial and nuisance behaviour condition which must form part of conditions in my tenancy agreement.

I am challenging certain conditions in the licenses I hold with LCC as being unlawful, however, not the condition relating to antisocial behaviour. The challenge will be taken to a lower level tribunal if the unlawful conditions are not removed from my licences.

I live in area with certain problems. One of my tenants moved out because of others antisocial behaviour and rubbish has been dumped many times in the garden area in a block of flats in which I own 5 studios. It is know locally who the perpetrators are.

If I was aware that a car that I had hired to individuals was being persistently used for antisocial behaviors then I would stop hiring the car to them.

Sooo ... when used lawfully selective licensing can be a force for good.

Gayle

The problem is that Landlords are not responsible for others antisocial behaviour. We are not employed to do this, this is police business. If Landlords were able to evict antisocial tenants quickly and cheaply then they would do so, but the law does not allow it.
Not only that but councils do not have any evidence that any more antisocial behaviour is caused by tenants than those who live in bought property. Selective licensing is just a form of money raising to keep council workers in jobs at the expense of law abiding tenants. I am fed up with being expected to do jobs that the council already have powers to police, but with no reward, other than court action if I do not do the council and governments dirty work.

Reply to the comment left by James Mann at 10/08/2018 - 12:29
True, if LCC contacts me re antisocial behaviour then easier for me to evict.

Cost of being landlord I suppose, I've served 5 section 8s in 15 years, one went to Court for possession in 2003.

It’s just a Money making scam by skint councils end of Story