Council plans for a £1,050 selective landlord licence

Landlords in one city could face a £1,050 selective licensing bill after the council opened a consultation.

The council says that no selective licensing fee discounts are being offered – and neither is payment by direct debit or instalments.

If the scheme is approved, all private landlords operating within the designated areas would need to obtain a licence lasting up to five years.

They must also comply with conditions covering safety, repairs, maintenance, waste and tenancy management.

The move by Preston City Council would see landlords paying the proposed £1,050 fee in two payments of £470 and £580, when the council grants the licence.

Landlords will benefit

Councillor Zafar Coupland, the council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “The proposal to introduce selective licensing in the city centre, St Matthew’s and Plungington wards is based on detailed evidence showing higher levels of poor housing conditions and housing-related issues in these areas than elsewhere in the city.

“By focusing our efforts where the need is greatest, we can take a targeted approach to improving standards and supporting healthier, stronger communities.”

He added: “I want to reassure responsible landlords that this scheme is not designed to penalise those who already provide safe, well-managed homes and work positively with their tenants.

“In fact, responsible landlords stand to benefit from a level playing field that helps tackle poor practice where it exists.

“We are keen to hear from tenants as part of this consultation, as their experiences will be invaluable in helping us understand the challenges within the sector and ensuring any future scheme is shaped by the people most directly affected by the quality and management of privately rented homes.”

Evidence for landlord licensing

The consultation has started and will run for at least 10 weeks, closing at midnight on Sunday 11 October.

Evidence gathered for the council found higher levels of damp, mould, excess cold, disrepair and other hazards within the three wards, with problems concentrated in areas experiencing high deprivation.

Stock condition modelling carried out by the Building Research Establishment estimated that around 16% of privately rented properties in Preston contain Category 1 hazards, the most serious risks assessed under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.

The council says that its existing enforcement work is largely driven by complaints, meaning officers usually intervene only after a tenant or another person has reported a problem.