Proposals have been brought forward by Wandsworth council in London to set up a review into the feasibility of introducing discretionary landlord licensing.
A statement from the authority says the private rented sector continues to grow significantly in London as a whole and now constitutes nearly a third of all housing stock in Wandsworth.
The council says: “The standards of delivery within the private rented sector can vary widely – while most are responsible and upstanding, there exists a rogue landlord element that deliver substandard, and sometimes overcrowded and dangerous dwellings which has a knock-on effect to the wider community in the form of anti-social behaviour, noise nuisance and other associated problems.”
Now, pending approval from the council’s executive, it is to assess possible additional and selective licensing.
It claims that potential benefits of such a scheme could include improvement in the condition and quality of properties in the private rented sector; the prevention of absentee or unfit landlords; increased responsibility required of landlords in the management of behaviour of their tenants; and, increased support for tenants.
A council spokesperson says: “We have a commitment to all of our residents to ensure that they are in safe, secure and well-managed homes.”
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When Labour took control of the council, I sold my two properties.
Kerrching 💰💰👍🏻👍🏻 Nice little earner given the 11.1% inflation figure. … we all know the tenants will pay for it , divided over 12 months 🫵🏻
Scottish tenants have just been given a real terms 11.1% rent reduction for the duration of the rent freeze - but when it's over, it might be all over for many tenants.
I hope ( and expect) they voted SNP otherwise they won't deserve the rent hikes coming their way, either in 6 months, 12 months, or later, but definitely some time not too far in the future.
In the fullness of time we will all have to have a licence, in all areas and in all types of property, more expense for tenants
This spake the second sighted Norfolk seer - and yeah, time and again was he seen to speak the truth!
I am looking to be long gone out of this by then............. enjoying the fruits of my toil and watching from the sidelines with regular shakes of the head.
I fail to understand these licencing schemes, apart from the council making money. The rogue landlords won't sign up. As for the quality of housing, aren't the current laws sufficient? I'm sure the council have ways to find rental properties.
Mr Young, money and jobs.
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