The largest blanket licensing scheme of private rental properties in the country has gone live.
Private landlords in Liverpool have until April 1 to apply for a compulsory licence.
The scheme will be larger than the London borough of Newham’s blanket licensing of some 35,000 homes.
Every single landlord in Liverpool, which has an estimated 50,000 rental properties, will be caught by the requirement to license each of their properties. They will be paying £400 for their first property and £350 for any additional home. Exemptions include HMOs.
Payments can be staggered, but all landlords must pay £100 per property by the start of April. They must pay the balance by the end of the year.
Landlords who have not registered by April 1 could be charged an admin fee, or face prosecution.
Members of an accredited or co-regulation scheme approved by the council will pay a discounted £200 per property.
Cllr Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for housing, said: “Everyone knows someone who has a horror story to tell about a bad landlord.
“This scheme is about giving tenants some expectation of their rights, and the city council the power to tackle breaches.
“Liverpool has a growing number of privately rented properties and the sector is vital in meeting the city’s housing needs, so it is important that what is on offer is of high quality.
“Although many landlords operate professionally, we are concerned about a number of landlords who rent properties which fail to meet satisfactory standards of tenancy and property management.
“This has a negative impact on the health and welfare of local communities and on a housing market that is already vulnerable in terms of vacant properties, low house prices and depressed rental values.
“Poorly managed properties also lead to problems such as anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping, and are a blight on the city’s neighbourhoods.
“Responsible landlords who provide quality accommodation for tenants have absolutely nothing to fear and that is why we have put in place substantial discounts for those who are already members of accredited schemes, which in some cases means it will cost around 75p per property per week.”
Alex Hilton, director of tenants’ campaign group Generation Rent, said: “Just like a week-old sandwich, bad housing can put people’s health at risk. For the same reason sandwich shops are regulated, renters shouldn’t have to put up with a free-for-all in the housing market where anyone can let out a grotty flat.
“This landlord licensing scheme will stop criminals exploiting tenants and help serious landlords bring their standards up, with huge benefit to the city’s renters.”
Liverpool is emphasising that its charges will cover costs, and not make a profit.
Details are here
£400 for a license is this annual or a one off payment?
They say it is to cover costs 50,000 x £400 = 20,000,000 That’s a lot of costs!
And do they really think the awful landlords declare they have rental properties? – The only ones paying this “Tax” is the good landlords.
In another artical today it highlights the “Beds in sheds” task force that has never met or ever planned to – Surely this would be a better idea as opposed to this attack on decent landlords!
I bet the clever people that implemented this idea will be the same ones that moan rents are going up!
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I wonder what Liverpool Borough Council plan to do with the £20 million or so raised from this Robin Hood scam? will Generation Rent be happy to see rents incressed by a further £400 a year?
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just roll it out for the rest of the country – you know you want to – Shelter/CAB
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Surely the Council already have all the clout they need to deal with rogue landlords? This is a revenue raising exercise, pure and simple.
And good to see Generation rent opening it’s gob and squarely sticking its own foot in it again…
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Looks like the £400 covers a 5 year period.
I still would not want to pay it, looks like they will be able to police it effectively anyway. Relying on tenants to report landlords not signed up ……… Thought they were worried about “revenge evictions”
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