Lewisham’s selective licence scheme?

Reply to the comment left by Fiona Dick at 30/06/2024 – 18:28
Crikey, who knew!

Typical of local government, and as useless as our national government is, (who are about to be replaced in four days time with an identical but even more deluded and globalist version of the same thing).

I just received this from Lewisham today
“Hi Lawrenson,
Hope you are well.
The deadline will be for the 1st October to apply for the licence.
However I highly recommend you apply ASAP, as the early bird discount ends on the 20th August 2024.
Kind Regards”
So there you go, the real enforcement starts on 1st October, and you don’t really need to do anything before then, unless you want the discount, in which case the deadline is 20 August.
Why can’t Lewisham say that on their site then?
And why the lack of marketing via email to landlords about the scheme, many of whom will not live in the borough. Hopeless, but the email is signed off by someone who identifies as he/him, so that box has been ticked.

I would be interested in your comments on Lewisham’s Selective Licensing scheme requirements, which I have had a quick look at.

1. Lewisham expect the license holder to visit the property every 6 months. My view – that is unnecessary and intrusive on a good tenant and conflicts with duty to allow them to enjoy the property quietly and peacefully enjoy the property, in other legislation.
2. They want to see references obtained from tenants on demand. Really! Aren’t we supposed to get references from landlords and employers confidentially? A conflict with our duties under GDPR surely?
3. They require us to display a copy of the current gas safe cert in the property. Another thing they have made up for themselves and which is contained in no legislation that I am aware of, even that for HMOs as far as I am aware. All one needs to do is send tenants a copy by email.

Seems to me that Lewisham are seemingly making up requirements that are in no other legislation and which seems to contradict landlords’ responsibilities in other areas of law and practice.

I would be interested in your views.

Nothing makes sense in this licence…I think they are making it up as they go along.
My tenants will not appreciate me going over to the house every 6 months. If you have good tenants in place then there has to be an element of trust too.
As for GPDR I wonder if they or any council are aware of what it means?
I have applied for the licence and am now starting to get emails from them stating that this is missing or this is not done and with the threat that if I don’t respond within 7 days they will terminate my application….threats!! Can they do this ? Is this not bullying?
I am not impressed ?

Nor am I.
I have raised the above points with the NRLA and their policy people.
Lewisham are clueless and making up their own rules that are in conflict with landlord responsibilities that exist elsewhere in law, they MUST be challenged.
Idiots
Luckily they don’t seem to have got round to processing mine yet.
Sorry to hear of your hounding by these clueless town hall apparatchiks

Reply to the comment left by David Lawrenson at 23/08/2024 – 16:56Hi
Commenting on point 2 only
If you look at schedule 4 to the 2004 Housing Act you will see that there is a mandatory condition in selective licenses “ A licence under Part 3 must include conditions requiring the licence holder to demand references from persons who wish to occupy the house.” So if you don’t like this complain to your MP to try and change the law, Lewisham is just doing what the law requires, they didn’t make that bit up themselves. If they want to check that you’ve complied with the licence the only sensible way is to ask to see the references

Reply to the comment left by Dis Belief at 31/08/2024 – 16:10
..it still conflicts with other responsibilities under GDPR
Rather enjoying the Jas Athwal thing in the news, the architect of Newham’s Local Landlord Tax, (known as licensing) now an MP, did not license his own let properties.
You cannot make this stuff up!