NRLA launches new licensing toolkit
A new licensing toolkit, to help landlords understand and challenge local licensing proposals has been launched exclusively for NRLA members.
The toolkit, developed by experts within the association, not only supports landlords through the - sometimes confusing - licensing process, it also lays out helpful guidance as to how landlords can respond to consultations and the legal requirements councils themselves must meet.
It also outlines the different types of landlord licensing, fee structures and cases in which individual landlords have taken on local authorities over conditions and won.
There is also an editable letter template, which can be used to outline comments by individual landlords who want to respond to a scheme consultation; a step-by-step guide to applying for a licence and details on what to do if your you application is refused.
John Stewart, deputy director for policy and research said: “The new toolkit is all about empowering landlords.
“The NRLA has concerns about the effectiveness of local licensing as a concept, as we don’t believe it works when it comes to raising standards. Once implemented, schemes lack transparency, with little or no feedback or accountability about how fees have been spent. However, where councils succeed in bringing forward schemes, landlords have no choice but to comply with licensing conditions and we have a duty to support them.
“We get a lot of calls about local licensing and it became clear there was a need for a permanent resource to be developed for landlords of all levels of experience to access in the members’ area of the NRLA website.”
According to NRLA research there are currently 46 active selective licensing schemes and 29 additional licensing schemes operating in England, with many more under consultation.
More information
Access the new toolkit.
The NRLA recently ran a webinar on property licensing in England. To listen back click here. (CHASING LINK)
