Salford City Council
Landlord Licensing
Zoë Whiteside
Principal Officer,Market Support Team,Housing
Services
Why Introduce Licensing
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Anti social behaviour
Vandalism
Empty Properties
Risk of Fire in Houses In Multiple Occupation
Inexperienced landlords
Unsatisfactory landlords
Landlord Licensing : what is it ?
• Housing Bill expected June 2005
• Will require landlords to obtain a license and adhere to license
conditions:
• Mandatory licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation with 3 or
more storeys, 5 or more people and 2 or more households,
• Additional licensing of HMOs
• Selective licensing of other private dwellings where the local
authority considers it will benefit tenants and communities, areas
of low demand and/or areas with problems of anti social
behaviour.
Application criteria
‘Fit and Proper’ Status
• Consideration to be given to :
• Unspent convictions which may be relevant to an application in
particular:
• (a) Any offence involving fraud or other dishonesty, or violence or
drugs or any Schedule 3 to the Sexual Offences Act
• (b) Any unlawful discrimination on grounds of sex, colour, race,
ethnic or national origins or disability in, or in connection with, the
carrying on of any business;
• (c) Contravention of any provision of the law relating to housing or
of landlord and tenant law; (including any civil proceedings)
Other application criteria
• Provide written statements of tenancy obligations &
inventories
• Gas & electrical safety certificates
• Declaration of furniture safety
• Provision for dealing with Anti Social Behaviour
• Fee payable
• Houses In Multiple Occupation-additionally physical
standards,maximum number of occupants
Benefits Of Licensing
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Reduce Anti social Behaviour
Support & training for responsible landlords
Exclude rogue landlords
Halt area decline
Better housing standards for private tenants
Benefit to wider community & business
Contributes to creation of sustainable communities
Salford’s Approach to Licensing
• Intend to make full use of powers
• Selective Licensing expected to be introduced from
June 2005
• Selective licensing combined with proactive inspection
• HMO Licensing from October 2005
• Links with Accreditation
• Multi agency approach
Progress & Action Plan
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Consultation with private landlords
First meeting of Landlord Working Group
Ongoing consultation with all those affected by Licensing
Confirm areas for selective licensing
Accurately identify accurate details of properties & landlords who
will require a license
• Link with legal services and the police on information sharing.
• To develop protocols & procedures on licensing in liaison with
Office Of Deputy Prime Minister
Have your say
• Do you agree with the proposals ?
• Would you like more information about landlord
licensing ?
• Would you like to be involved in developing the
scheme ?
• Please complete the consultation sheet attached and
return in the prepaid envelope