Landlord Licensing
Zoë Whiteside
Principal Officer,Market Support Team,Housing Services

• Anti social behaviour
• Vandalism
• Empty Properties
• Risk of Fire in Houses In Multiple Occupation
• Inexperienced landlords
• Unsatisfactory landlords

• Housing Act 2004, expected to come into force in December 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.

‘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)

• 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

• 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

• Intend to make full use of powers
• Selective Licensing expected to be introduced from
December 2005
• Selective licensing combined with proactive inspection
• HMO Licensing from December 2005
• Links with Accreditation
• Multi agency approach

• Consultation with private landlords
• 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

• 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