Your licensing update
In our licensing blog this month, we round up active licensing consultations that we would encourage private landlords to respond to.
Consultations are currently underway in:
Bristol
The NRLA has received notification that Bristol City Council is currently consulting on a proposal to introduce a city-wide additional licensing scheme to replace the current scheme and introduce selective licensing in another part of the city.
Selective licensing is proposed in Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton wards. Under the plans it will cover all privately rented properties in those areas, including accommodation occupied by single people, couples and families.
The standard fee for a selective licence is proposed to be set at £912 for a five-year licence, with discounts for membership with accreditation scheme Rent with Confidence (RWC) and satisfactory certificates. The additional licence fee is set to cost £1,861, also for a five-year licence, with the same discounts applying.
Landlords can read more about the proposals and submit their responses to the survey on the council’s website here: https://www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/property-licensing-2023 The consultation closes on Tuesday 7th November.
Scarborough
A consultation about a proposed selective licensing scheme is currently live focused on several wards in the town. The proposals cover Castle, Northstead and Falsgrave and Stepney wards and would come into effect on 1st June 2024 should the scheme be given the go ahead.
The standard fee being proposed is in the region of £700 per property for a five-year licence, with discounts available for landlords applying early, or if they are a member of a recognised landlord association, such as the NRLA.
Some parts of the proposed area are already subject to a selective licensing scheme, so the council is proposing a reduced fee for those properties that were previously licenced and fully compliant with the licence conditions.
Landlords can read more about the proposals and submit their responses on the council’s website: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/housing-and-homelessness/selective-licensing/selective-licensing-scarborough-central The consultation closes on Friday 10th November.
Blackpool
The council has just launched a consultation to introduce further selective licensing in the borough, which will require Secretary of State approval should it come into force.
The proposal is to introduce a selective licensing scheme to cover eight of Blackpool’s most deprived wards:
- Warbreck
- Talbot
- Brunswick
- Claremont
- Bloomfield
- Tyldesley
- Victoria
- Waterloo
This is on the criteria of current poor housing conditions and deprivation. This area would cover around 11,000 private rented properties, which accounts for around 70% of Blackpool's private rented sector.
The consultation will run for 10 weeks and will close Sunday 7th January 2024.
Landlords can read more about the proposals and submit their responses on the council’s website: https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Your-Council/Have-your-say/Consultations/Consultations-and-other-engagement.aspx
Brighton and Hove
A consultation has just been launched to introduce both additional and selective licensing in the city.
Brighton and Hove Council is proposing a borough-wide additional licensing scheme and a selective licensing scheme for four wards and a further 13 wards based on poor property conditions and deprivation.
The proposed fee for an additional licence is £800, and a standard fee for a selective licence is currently set at £670 subject to consultation.
Landlords can read more about the proposals and submit their responses on the council’s website: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/proposals-introduce-new-property-licensing-schemes The consultation closes on Wednesday 3rd January 2024.
Find out more
The NRLA aims to respond to all property licensing consultations, and members can learn more about effectively responding to consultations in our free Licensing Toolkit.
The best way to keep up to date with licensing news and consultation information is by signing up to NRLA Licensing Support, a free member benefit, powered by our partner, Kamma Data.
Using Kamma, you can keep up to date with licensing regulations for up to 16 properties. Read the latest licensing update from Kamma by clicking here
