What does Selective Licencing actually achieve?
From what I have seen, the vast majority of prosecutions are for landlords not having a licence.
Hang on a minute?
I thought the whole idea behind licencing was to improve the rented sector?
How does prosecuting a person for not having a licence achieve that?
OK, so there maybe a few other prosecutions for others reasons too. However, I challenge any Council to name me one instance where they have made such a prosecution which could not have been made before they introduced their licencing scheme.
Given that the administration of licencing creates jobs to collect the money, financed by the collection of the money itself, perhaps that’s their justification? If so, am I the only person who sees that as being downright stupid?
The reality is that all Selective Licencing is really doing for local economies is damaging them. If discourages privately financed investment into much needed affordable rental accommodation and for some landlords it is the straw that broke the camels back, and is leading them to sell up.
Come on people, we need to unite and may the fools behind the selective Licencing see some common sense.
My petition on 38 Degrees can be printed and posted to the people behind Selective Licencing in your area, so why not do that?
LINK TO PETITION HERE
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Member Since May 2016 - Comments: 415 - Articles: 52
5:05 PM, 8th August 2018, About 8 years ago
Absolutely correct Mark.
Furthermore apart from prosecuting for not having a licence, the principal offences have been for landlords not having correct paperwork. Eg failing to give a tenant a copy of an EPC. They are available on line anyway. You are also right in stating that landlords need to unite. Its all one way traffic for the rotten councils . Landlords need to face the truth. Councils are not interested in good landlords or working with landlords. We need to fight back
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 804
10:48 AM, 9th August 2018, About 8 years ago
The key to taking on these councils amd government is to unite strength in numbers
Member Since February 2017 - Comments: 20
10:49 AM, 9th August 2018, About 8 years ago
Member Since November 2017 - Comments: 15
11:16 AM, 9th August 2018, About 8 years ago
Hi Mark
I am corresponding with Liverpool CC (stating that my letters are without prejudice to my right to appeal to lower tribunal) re varying conditions attached to one particular license eg inspection every 6 months.
I have quoted from Court of Appeal decision in February this year, Brown v Hyndburn. The decision has clarified matters and is very helpful re selective licensing
I am awaiting reply.
Gayle
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12212 - Articles: 1408
11:29 AM, 9th August 2018, About 8 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Leslie Clive Bedford at 09/08/2018 – 10:49
Good on you Sir!
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12212 - Articles: 1408
11:31 AM, 9th August 2018, About 8 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Gayle Tregaskis at 09/08/2018 – 11:16
Well done and please keep us updated
Member Since September 2014 - Comments: 277
11:50 AM, 9th August 2018, About 8 years ago
It’s aim is to bring in money for the councils, ‘nothing more – nothing less’. Nice big juicy fines – lovely! Some of our councilors earn well over £100,000 p.a. each with no mention of a voluntary pay cut. You guessed it, I don’t like councils, never have.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 1434
11:55 AM, 9th August 2018, About 8 years ago
Perhaps the idea is that it will largely be the criminal landlords
with properties in poor condition that do not get a licence?
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 804
11:58 AM, 9th August 2018, About 8 years ago
It’s extortion plain and simple
Member Since June 2018 - Comments: 27
12:46 PM, 9th August 2018, About 8 years ago
Selective licensing was brought in several years ago in one particular area of Thanet where we have several properties. This one area was very run down, and the Council have used the licensing to greatly improve this part of town. It allowed them to focus their energies on this area and pull different departments together. As a result property prices and rents have increased massively. If Selective Licensing is down correctly I think it is of great benefit to the local area and weeds out the bad landlords.