Blackpool approves selective licensing scheme

they are specifying that for the licence the EPC rating must be a minimum ‘C’ rating!!!!

That’s a whole lot of tenants who are going to be evicted in the next few months if the licencing system comes in on 1st April.

Replying to Reluctant Landlord:
Unless I have somehow misunderstood you, the LA surely cannot require that legally.
How could you impose the typical requirements say for a terraced Victorian house, currently an “E”, where internal insulation to the exterior walls, for example ( plus other aspects), would cost at least the maximum approx. £10k spend limit-only to find you’re still a “D”?
That investment would be way in excess of the annual rental income in most parts of Blackpool! Could you still pay your mortgage?What real powers has this “Decent Homes Enforcement Pilot” got I wonder?
Way too much intervention into genuine business activity.
What other business category is becoming controlled to this degree-none!

Reply to the comment left by Accommod8 at 28/11/2024 – 10:08
it’s a really weird SL they are imposing….check out the bit about AST must be written in the primary language of the tenant and written repair procedures with time frames!!!

IF the property is a C AND you fulfill the other at the other ‘Blackpool Standards’ the fee cost is £572 for 5 years.

If not then the SL licence is £772.

‘Blackpool Standards’ as follows….

Space standards
Each self-contained unit must total at least 20 square metres in floor space (excluding bathrooms(s) and any hallways), and include the following minimum room sizes:

Each single bedroom must be a minimum of 6.5 m² and be capable of fitting a single bed, wardrobe, and bedside table
Each double bedroom must be a minimum of 10.2 m² and be capable of fitting a double bed, 2 bed side tables and a double wardrobe.
*Areas where the ceiling height is less than 1.52 m (5′) (such as an attic room) will not be counted as part of the floor area.
Each kitchen should contain enough space to fit a cooker, fridge/freezer, washing machine, double base sink unit, double wall unit and 1.5m of 600mm deep work surface suitable for preparing food.
Each bathroom should have enough space to fit a toilet, wash hand basin, bath or shower.
Certifications
Each property must have the correct officially certified planning use and building regulations and certificates available on inspection.

Management standards
A pack containing all certificates and instructions relating to the property must be given to each tenant at the beginning of each tenancy and subsequently on request.

As a minimum this will include:

Most recent EPC (minimum C rating)
Portable Appliance Test Certificates for any appliances provided as part of the tenancy
Valid Annual Gas Safety Certificate
Written and signed tenancy agreement in the primary language of the tenant
Photographs of each room at the start of the tenancy signed by both landlord and tenant
Written ASB Plan and/or procedures in place for dealing with anti-social behaviour from tenants and visitors
Periodic inspection Report or Electrical Installation Condition Report for the whole of the electrical installations within the property in accordance with current IEE wiring regulations
Written repairs procedure with timeframes
Provide written information on the tenancy deposit scheme as set out in the Housing (Tenancy Deposits) (Prescribed information) Order 2007
Landlord/Agent contact details and emergency contact details provided and securely positioned in a prominent place
Completed, signed and dated inventory
Details of how to use all appliances supplied as part of the tenancy including any heating system
Details of how to turn off the water, gas and electricity, in case of emergency
Advice on waste and recycling services and relevant collection dates
Copy of the guidance, ‘How to Rent – the checklist for renting in England’
Copy of the completed ‘Right to Rent’ Checklist
Buildings insurance certificate

Property conditions
Each home including external areas must be fully compliant with Part 1 Housing Act 2004 – Housing Conditions and must be free from all Category 1 hazards contained within the HHSRS guidance.

Each home must be fully compliant with all licence conditions of the selective licensing proposal as required under Part 3 Housing Act 2004.

Each kitchen and bathroom must have been replaced within the last 20 years and be fully functional and fit for purpose.

Each home must provide a good standard of thermal comfort including an efficient heating system controllable by the tenant(s), capable of maintaining an indoor temperature of at least 21 degrees centigrade when the outdoor temperature is -2, and effective wall and loft insulation. The EPC rating must be a minimum ‘C’ rating. Any heating system must be fixed, economical and accessible.

Each home must be in a good state of repair, with all building components in good condition including windows and doors which are draught-proof, secure and watertight.

So if, as you state, listed under Property Conditions it reads: Effective wall and loft insulation. Then I say yes to the loft-easy and cheap, but a complete no the walls, as they appear to mean ALL walls. How can you be expected to insulate all solid walls (no cavity) when this is not the result of an EPC survey, but just the council’s own stipulations?
The EPC rating must be a minimum C rating! (by 1/4/25)??
In all 11,000 properties??
Again, apologies if I’ve missed the point here!

There are many language that I do not speak.

If I was forced to issue tenancy documents in a language that I do not understand, I’d choose my tenants accordingly.

Might I suggest that tenants that don’t understand the language of the country in which they reside, pay for a translator.

So post RRB how can we remove tenants if the property doesn’t comply?

Paul- This, including reaching an EPC C rating under Blackpool Standards applies pre-RRB w.e.f.1st April 25, according to Reluctant Landlord.
What have I missed here, because, as Paul implies, your property suddenly ceases to be lettable if either you cannot reach a C whatever measures you take, or if you can’t afford, or it makes no commercial sense to do it, quite apart from needing to plan, cost, and in many cases start upgrading projects now.
Surely we need to query a local authority’s apparent right to impose this!