The pro-tenant Renters Reform Coalition has heralded the latest Labour restriction on private renting as “good news.”
From Monday it will be much easier for local councils to introduce draconian licensing rules, sweeping away a system that’s been in place for nine years.
The Government has announced that from December 23, local authorities in England will no longer be required to obtain confirmation from the Secretary of State before implementing a selective licensing scheme of any size.
The Renters Reform Coalition says: “This is good news – we’ve long been calling for the government to make it easier for councils to extend and set up landlord licensing schemes, which are an important line of defence for renters.
“Private renting is different everywhere, so it’s important councils are empowered to tackle local problems and drive up standards.
“We look forward to seeing more detail about these changes.”
The news – slipped through by the government in an update to guidance issued to local authorities – means councils will no longer even have to ask the Secretary of State for Housing for consent.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says that a “local housing authority must, however, still satisfy all statutory requirements contained in Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004”.
These are that a selective licensing scheme can only be introduced if there are problems with low housing demand or significant and persistent problems with anti-social behaviour linked to the private rented homes in that area.
The guidance also says: “In addition, local authorities will be expected to consult for a period of at least 10 weeks on the proposed designation”.
Where there are local mayors, like for example London Mayor Sadiq Khan, they must be consulted on decision making, and councils must also update the government on the impact of the scheme.
The ministry has also issued a separate statement, saying it wants to: “Give councils stronger tools to improve their housing markets…so local authorities can take more action to tackle specific and persistent issues in private rented sector properties.
Together, this amounts to a rewiring of local government’s constitutional status, under the presumption that councils have the knowledge and expertise to govern their places.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today