Council pushes ahead with selective licensing despite landlord concerns
8 months ago | 1 comments
Council fines landlords £450,000 for unlicensed rental properties
12:01 AM, 27th August 2025, 8 months ago
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A council has issued £450,000 in penalties to landlords operating rental properties without proper licences, as part of its clampdown on the safety and quality of the city’s PRS.
Birmingham City Council is now urging landlords to secure the necessary licenses or risk fines of up to £30,000 per non-compliant property.
In June 2023, the council introduced an extensive licensing initiative, one of the UK’s biggest, targeting substandard housing conditions.
The selective licensing schemes affect 25 designated areas, plus there’s additional licensing for smaller shared accommodations housing three to four unrelated individuals or families.
Birmingham also has Section 257 HMO licensing citywide, complementing the mandatory HMO licensing in place since 2006.
Landlords face fines
The council’s cabinet member for housing and homelessness, Cllr Nicky Brennan, said: “The rules have been made clear, and it is the responsibility of landlords to take immediate action to avoid facing penalties
“I am pleased to say that the new licensing schemes have raised the bar for private rental housing in Birmingham, and in some cases have even proven to be lifesaving.
“Currently, around one in four of our compliance inspections have required landlords to take action to improve conditions for their tenants.”
He added: “By enforcing stricter regulations, the council is creating a safer and more secure rental market for all residents.”
Thousands of inspections
Birmingham claims it has carried out more than 12,000 property inspections, with 40,000 landlords now registered under the scheme.
It says that the inspections have uncovered numerous safety violations, including missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
In one case earlier this year, a routine check found a carbon monoxide leak, saving a family of four.
Around 25% of compliance inspections have identified issues requiring urgent repairs, such as leaking roofs, mould growth in bedrooms, and the absence of vital safety equipment.
The council is also encouraging renters to verify their property’s licensing status using the public register available online.
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Member Since January 2025 - Comments: 58
1:54 AM, 27th August 2025, About 8 months ago
Birmingham City Council failed an inspection on a property because the sofa didn’t have a fire label.
The apartment was built around 2008 and any furniture made after 1988 complies with the regulations.
Even though it was plainly obvious the sofa was not over 37 years old, even though the apartment was built in 2008, the landlord evicted tenant and sold up! Death by a thousand cuts
Meanwhile, rent’s over last 5 years in Birmingham City Center for a 1 bed have gone from roughly £600pcm to £1,000 and 2 beds from around £700pcm to £1,200pcm
Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 782
8:47 AM, 27th August 2025, About 8 months ago
Examples like this raise serious concerns regarding the vague wording in the Decent Homes Proposals.
Presumably if it was the tenants sofa it would have been ok or are we expected to police everything a tenant brings in the property?
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3538 - Articles: 5
10:57 AM, 27th August 2025, About 8 months ago
unfurnished, no white goods and basic flooring is the way to go with everything it seems and keep the rent bang on market rate. Photograph everything at the start of the tenancy within an inch of its life. Produce a full booklet/’idiot guide’ explaining how to clean, open windows, ventilate and where not to place furniture. Put chalk marks on the floor where the bins are to be placed and what should go in them and when.
Do LL checks every 3 months without fail, taking meter reads of tenant energy consumption each time to show conclusive proof (if needed) that the T is not heating adequately.
Ensure the T is reminded/educated at every rent increase is because of costs/time/ legislation added to by council/government NOT the LL.
Its a matter of time before the tenants start shifting their hatred towards the powers that be…..
Member Since January 2025 - Comments: 93
11:29 AM, 27th August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 27/08/2025 – 10:57
Why bother? This isn’t an accident—it’s part of the process. Private values are being deliberately eroded so the state can step in with compulsory purchase and transfer ownership to newly created, quasi state-run operators. That’s how a new “council house” sector will be conjured up—just in time to give Labour something to boast about at the next election. Their 1.5 million homes pledge was never about building; it was always about confiscation. That’s the Labour way.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3538 - Articles: 5
11:31 AM, 27th August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Person Of The People at 27/08/2025 – 11:29
they wont be able to confiscate much if the PRS opt out and sell up before then…
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2204 - Articles: 2
12:21 PM, 27th August 2025, About 8 months ago
“Unfurnished, no white goods and basic flooring”. You forgot to add “maximise the rent”, never again charge less than full market rent.