Selective Licensing Consultations

I was just Googling something (entirely unrelated) just now and came across this document: http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/documents/s32767/03%20Private%20Rented%20Sector%20Licensing%20Scheme%20171214.pdf – minutes of a Lewisham Council Housing Select Committee meeting held on 17 December 2014, discussing the merits of selective licensing. I haven’t had a chance to read it properly, but have scanned through it – it seems to be very much in favour of licensing and there is also a mention that the London Borough of Greenwich is also considering it.

Reply to the comment left by “Mandy Thomson” at “24/02/2015 – 16:37“:

Panic over! It seems their conclusion was in favour of additional licensing but NOT selective!

Am I missing something? or am I one of just a few in Waltham Forest that don’t like the idea of Landlord Licencing?
To my amazement there were only 59 signatures on this e- petition (set up by Churchills Estate Agents I believe)

http://democracy.walthamforest.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=56&RPID=0&HPID=0

From what I read Waltham Forest council stand to collect around £15m, surely there must be more than 62 landlords in this borough :-O
I’ve signed and let my Family know about it too.

Waltham Forest are planing landlord licencing – not selective – but all, as far as I am aware 🙁

From 1 April, local authorities will require approval from the Secretary of State before implementing selective licensing to more than 20% of their borough, and/or affecting 20% or more of private rented properties in the borough: http://www.landlords.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/blanket-selective-licensing-require-secretary-state-approval

Recognising that the current two criteria for bringing in selective licensing are inadequate, in a letter to the Department for Communities and Local Government that the above NLA article also links to, Brandon Lewis also states that Parliament is now considering 4 additional criteria: poor property conditions, large amounts of inward migration, a high level of deprivation or high levels of
crime.

However, from a landlord’s perspective, I believe that while this is fairer and more accurate on the face of it, it still very unfair – there are many neighbourhoods in large cities where you have a mixture of properties, with occupiers (of all tenures) from many different walks of life – I know of several areas where you have people from council tenants and those living in shared housing at the bottom of the market, to highly qualified professionals living in large houses and luxury flats – all within a few meters of each other.

I have professional tenants on one such street who rent my nicely presented and spacious first floor flat, that’s opposite a large council estate and on the same street as halfway houses for people with serious social problems (they chose it because the area is very central and close to Central London, and it’s cheaper than most other parts of London). There are also a few Victorian villas that are occupied by single households. Needless to say, the area also has more than its fair share of disadvantage, crime and ASB.

Croydon Council are rushing through their licensing scheme before April 1st when, as we now know, approval from central government will be required for borough wide schemes.

They are discussing it at a cabinet meeting this evening https://secure.croydon.gov.uk/akscroydon/users/public/admin/kab14.pl?operation=SUBMIT&meet=34&cmte=C…

In the light of a consultation which, like all selective licensing consultations, was full of questions loaded in favour of licensing, which only a small proportion of the public are likely to have responded to, it looks like the proposed scheme will go ahead.

Mandy, Very much appreciate your comments and updates,
Mark

Reply to the comment left by “Mandy Thomson” at “16/03/2015 – 09:43“:

Further to my earlier comment about Croydon Council’s attempt to rush through their scheme ahead of the 1st April legislation change, I am currently putting together some questions for the council Scrutiny meeting, and am curious to know if anyone already affected by licensing can remember how long the council concerned took from the end of their consultation, to taking the decision to go ahead and implement?

For the record, Croydon’s extended consultation (extended following the Regas victory against Enfield Council) ended 2 March and the cabinet decided to implement on 16 March, just 3 working days after the change to legislation was announced…

Any information is much appreciated and thanks in advance.

Mandy, you may wish to contact Richard Blanco at the NLA.

Reply to the comment left by “Ollie Cornes” at “25/03/2015 – 07:37“:

Thanks, Ollie. I’m already in touch with Gavin Dick, who’s advising us – I might email him and ask.

A group of landlords and property developers have started legal action against the Croydon scheme. They are calling for anyone affected by this to support them – visit their website: http://www.croydonpropertyforumltd.com/

It seems that Croydon’s £750 fee, with no discount for multiple properties, is at least ONE of the highest and most punitive around. This doesn’t send the message that they’re on the side of landlords and prepared to work with them…