Landlords urged to respond to licensing consultations
The NRLA is urging landlords to make their views heard on plans to introduce licensing schemes in a number of towns and cities across the country.
Several local authorities are currently consulting on licensing plans. The NRLA aims to respond to all local authority licensing consultations, and is urging members to respond to consultations that affect them.
The association has recently developed a new licensing toolkit exclusive for members. The tookit not only supports landlords through the licensing process, it also lays out helpful guidance as to how landlords can respond to consultations and the legal requirements councils themselves must meet.
Current local authority licensing consultations
Charnwood (consultation closes 23rd October)
An additional licensing consultation is also still ongoing in Charnwood. The council is planning on introducing a borough wide licensing scheme for all Houses of Multiple Occupation. The NRLA will be responding to this consultation, and landlords can read more about this by clicking here.
Liverpool (Consultation closes 26th October)
Liverpool City Council is currently running a twelve week consultation inviting views on plans to introduce the scheme next summer, covering sixteen out of thirty wards in the city. That's around 80% of privately rented properties in Liverpool. The designated areas include: Central, Riverside, Greenbank, Kensington, Picton, Tuebrook & Stoneycroft, County, Anfield, St Michael’s, Princes Park, Kirkdale, Old Swan, Warbreck, Wavertree, Fazakerley and Everton.The proposed fee ranges from £300 to £570 per property, depending on the type of licence applied for.
As some NRLA members will be aware, this is the second time the council has consulted on licensing plans in as many years.
Last year, Liverpool City Council consulted on plans to renew a city wide selective licensing scheme for another five years, after it expired in March 2020. While the council's cabinet approved the plans, the proposals were blocked by the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick in January. According to the council this was because of a lack of evidence included in the proposals to show low housing demand across the city. Have your say on the plans here.
Tower Hamlets (consultation closes 20th November)
The council is consulting on plans to "renew, alter or end" a selective licensing scheme that is currently operational in three areas of the London borough. The scheme is due to come to an end in October 2021.
To read more about the plans and have your say in an online questionaire, click here.
Keep up to date with the NRLA's most recent licensing consultation responses over on the regional news section of our website. Listen to a recent webinar hosted by NRLA policy officer Samantha Watkin on licensing and how to engage with the consultation process here.
Salford (consultation closes January 2021)
Salford City Council is currently consulting on plans to introduce a borough -wide additional HMO licensing scheme in the city. The additonal licensing scheme that is being proposed would cover small HMOs that do not already fall into the scope of mandatory licensing, with the proposed licence fee varying from £955 to more than £1000. Read more about these plans here.
