The government has rejected a council’s bid to extend its licensing scheme for privately rented housing.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has refused Brent council’s bid for a blanket extension of its existing scheme.
This follows a similar ruling last month when an application by Liverpool council to renew its citywide landlord licensing scheme was rejected.
Responding to the news, the Residential Landlords Association says such licensing schemes are ineffective and are brought in by councils who want to be seen to be doing something to tackle criminal landlords without actually doing anything to root them out.
Local authorities are also accused by the RLA of using licensing schemes as a cash machine.
John Stewart, the association’s policy manager, says: “We all want to see bad landlords driven out of the sector. However, licensing is not the answer. All it does is identify the good landlords who register and then tax them. They do nothing to flush out the criminals who stay under the radar.
“Instead, councils should use the wealth of data they can already access to find landlords and target resources to properly enforce the wide range of powers they have to deal with unsafe and sub-standard rented housing.”
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It hasn't worked anywhere else, so why bother with more un-needed costs, that ultimatley lowers stock providance.
How about just introducing a National LL Licensing scheme at £100 per property every 5 years!
ANY LL NOT Licensing to be hit by massive fines to be kept by the Council
That should sort out all the rogues!!!
Then how about LA being hit for massive fines if they act for any unlicensed LL.
That would result in millions of rental properties being withdrawn from the market.
RESULT for good LL.
Far fewer rental properties available meaning rents will need to be higher
Of course it would result in mass homelessness but at least the rogue LL will have been forced to stop operating!!
Win win for good LL
Nightmare for Govt and Councils..................................which is why there will NEVER be a National LL Licensing Scheme.
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