Government reject Brent Council application to extend licensing scheme

Government reject Brent Council application to extend licensing scheme

14:49 PM, 27th February 2020, About 4 years ago 15

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The RLA has welcomed the Government’s rejection of an application by Brent Council to extend its licensing scheme for privately rented housing.

This follows a similar ruling last month when an application by Liverpool City Council to renew its citywide landlord licensing scheme was rejected.

The Residential Landlords Association argues that such licensing schemes are ineffective and are brought in by councils who want to be seen to be doing something to tackle criminal landlords without actually doing anything to root them out. Local authorities are also accused by the RLA of using licensing schemes as a cash machine.

John Stewart, Policy Manager for the Residential Landlords Association, said:

“We all want to see bad landlords driven out of the sector. However, licensing is not the answer. All it does is identify the good landlords who register and then tax them. They do nothing to flush out the criminals who stay under the radar.

“Instead, councils should use the wealth of data they can already access to find landlords and target resources to properly enforce the wide range of powers they have to deal with unsafe and sub-standard rented housing.”


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Comments

Luke P

21:23 PM, 28th February 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Michael Bond at 28/02/2020 - 10:44
Displacement should be a consultation consideration. If it’s been overlooked by your LA, challenge them as this could constitute part of the evidence against them should it result in JR.

Mark Shine

21:54 PM, 28th February 2020, About 4 years ago

Luke, as always, you obv know your stuff. That said, please feel free to comment on either of my 2 posts before yours? I’d welcome your input..,

12:33 PM, 29th February 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mark Shine at 28/02/2020 - 21:54Hi Mark, is this the same Mark Shine I know from Willesden Green when I bought a flat there back in 1999? I was alsways very impressed with your memory when we spoke, remember me? What are you up to these days? Back on topic, it seems that Selective Licensing has been put on hold but Additional continues as of it's implimentation date of 01/02/2020. The second half of this article explains in more detail https://www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/plans-expand-selective-licensing-brent-placed-hold-after-government-withhold-approval How the Cllr can say that licensing has proven to benefit landlords is beyond me. I'm all in favour of improved housing and eliminating rogues - but do me a favour! How difficult is it for Brent to work out which houses are dumps and which are being well looked after?

Heather G.

16:23 PM, 29th February 2020, About 4 years ago

Croydon's SL scheme consultation ends on 9th March (I think). Please go online and feedback on it.

Mark Shine

20:53 PM, 29th February 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Martin Wheeler at 29/02/2020 - 12:33
Hi Martin, I assume your referring to another who is an agent, I see from google. Not me I’m afraid.

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