Selective Licensing Fees and Proposed Landlord Licensing/Housing Benefit Payments

Other

The provate sector is about to be =hit with another piece of money grabbing legislation in the guise of landlord licensing.

Manchester Council is presently charging the private sector landlords £417 to license a property this fee has increased from £295 in 18 months ans as an Agent operating in Manchester who has paid this new department £30,000 in license fees deducted from landlords since the introduction I am frightened for the private sector landlord. Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley, is now demanding that Manchester roll out this selective licensing all over Manchester and not as it was intended for i.e. deprived areas with baorded up properties. Maybe MP's are worrying that their troughs might not be filled with public money in the future and are looking for another way to raise funds that they can access.

Social landlords do not have to register each property nor do they have to pay a license fee in fact the oposite applies - the private sector subsidise the social sector in taxes.

The private landlord is struggling to pay mortgages, maintain their property and suffer rent arrears where housing benefit is paid directly to tenants who spend the money and accrue rent arrears. Is the RLA representing the private landlords in the discussion leading up to the new legislation?