Your licensing update for July
In our licensing blog this month, we round up active licensing consultations that we would encourage you, as landlords, to respond to, as well as schemes coming into force in the future.
Active consultations:
Blackburn with Darwen Council
Blackburn with Darwen Council is currently consulting on plans to re-introduce and extend selective licensing in the borough.
The proposed fee is £724 per licence with the option to spread out payments to reduce the initial outlay.
Some proposed conditions for licence holders will require them to provide references on tenants, rent receipts and safety certificates.
The council says it plans to introduce licensing to improve management of the PRS stock in the proposed area, increase the value of the properties and reduce anti-social behaviour and fly tipping.
The consultation will run until Friday 26 July. Further information about the proposals and how to respond can be found here.
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council are consulting on introducing further selective licensing in the city.
The proposed wards are:
- Parts of Cheetham
- Crumpsall
- Harpurhey
- Longsight
- Miles Platting
- Newton Heath
- Moss Side
The consultation runs until Monday 22 July, and landlords can find out further information about the proposals and how to respond here.
Rochdale Council
Rochdale Council is consulting on introducing a new additional licensing scheme that will cover the entire borough. An additional licensing scheme would allow the council to licence properties containing three or more people who share basic amenities at the property.
The council says an additional licensing scheme will allow the council to maintain property standards in a much larger number of properties across the borough. It says unregulated HMO’s account for a large portion of poorly managed property in the area, often afflicted by problems with disrepair and poor conditions, crime and anti-social behaviour.
The fee for a new five-year licence will be £908 with a £47 per habitable room inspection fee.
The deadline to respond to the consultation is Sunday 7 July. Further information and how to respond to the survey can be found here.
Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council has recently made the NRLA aware of a small exemption to certain properties in their currently additional licensing scheme.
It said that if a converted building consists of separate self-contained units, and there are only two people living in the building as separate households, it will not be subject to licensing (under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004) even if the building would otherwise have satisfied the “converted block of flats test” in section 257 of Housing Act 2004.
If there are more than two people, including children, living as at least two separate households, then a licence is required, provided the rest of the criteria for Section 257 properties is met.
Any landlords who wish to contact the council for further information or clarification should email: [email protected]
London Borough of Lewisham
A new selective licensing scheme will come into force in Lewisham on 1 July 2024 and end on 30 June 2029. The new scheme will cover 20,000 properties in the borough and affect properties who are rented to single families or two unrelated renters.
The basic fee for a selective licence is £640 with discounts available for early applications and accredited landlords.
To apply for a licence, or speak to the council about the application process, further information can be found on the council’s website here.
Brighton and Hove City Council
A new additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs is shortly coming into force in Brighton and Hove from 1 July 2024 and will end on 30 June 2029. The scheme will apply city-wide and for HMOs who do not come under mandatory licensing.
The council estimates the new scheme will cover around 2,200 properties across the city.
For landlords who are required to apply for licences, the council can be contacted by either email or phone: [email protected] or 01273 293156.
