Manchester has extended selective licensing in more of the city, covering another 1,400 properties in The Ladders, Hyde Road, Trinity and Ben Street areas.
Four similar schemes already cover 1,800 properties in Crumpsall, Old Moat, Moston and Moss Side/Rusholme where 1,871 licences have been issued, along with 51 enforcement letters, fines totalling £108,000 and 12 suspended prohibition orders.
The scheme extension follows two consultations which the council says found that 92% of residents who responded agreed that private rented properties should be inspected. The NRLA went public with its opposition to the scheme.
Officers conducted 701 external inspections and 145 internal inspections in the new areas and found six category one hazards and 215 other hazards which led to three enforcement letters telling landlords to improve their properties.
Councillor Gavin White (pictured), executive member for housing and employment, says it’s clear that these schemes improve standards in private sector homes – and tenants are seeing the real-life benefits.
He adds: “The enforcement work carried out by council officers mean that residents in private sector homes in these areas can sleep soundly knowing that their homes have been made safe as a direct result of selective licensing.” ]
Eight more?
Manchester Council has flagged up another eight areas where it might consider schemes in future, including Claremont Rd/Great Western Street, Moss Side, and Royals, Longsight, which would cover another 1,031 properties.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is a supporter of landlord licensing schemes and is also set on introducing a Good Landlord Charter in partnership with the city’s 10 councils to support landlord licensing and drive up standards in the private rented sector.
The licence fee for the new areas is £798 for five years, with an early bird offer of £591 if landlords apply before 30th April.
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