It is possible that licensing regimes operated by local councils could cut the fees they impose on landlords.
The House of Commons debate on the Renters Reform Bill last week confirmed that there would be a review of licensing schemes to minimise their overlap with the so-called property portal being introduced when the Bill becomes law.
However, just before the weekend housing minister Jacob Young told NRLA members in a webinar that the review could - at least in theory - recommend that charges be cut and schemes downsized.
The NRLA has argued plans to introduce the portal - where landlords will register properties and documents confirming they meet standards - would serve precisely the same purpose as council licensing.
However environmental health officers are lobbying hard to save local council licensing.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health reckons that the Renters Reform Bill would threaten the existence of council licensing regimes. The CIEH claims licensing isn’t another layer of red tape but is valuable in its own right.
Institute executive director Louise Hosking says: “We strongly disagree with suggestions that the proposed Property Portal removes the need for selective licensing schemes.
“Licensing provides a means for local authorities to inspect privately rented housing using enforceable conditions and to identify and resolve problems without the need for tenants to have complained.
“The Property Portal would collect valuable information but would not replace this service. The Renters Reform Bill should be used as an opportunity to remove unnecessary barriers to local authorities using licensing schemes to improve housing standards.”
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The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health takes a very narrow view of health.
Driving out more and more landlords increases homelessness, and is bound to damage tenants' physical and mental health.
They should not be downsized or the fees cut ! They should ALL be scrapped if the national scheme comes in. If not…. We know for sure it’s an income generator. 💰💰
The solution won't be what is necessary for the industry it'll be all about the politics, which is what all this so-called tenant reform has ever been about.
What's needed is a Tenants Register.
Has anyone considered where the Tenants from Hell end up once a LL has spent months, possibly years, most likely at great expense and no rent trying to evict errant Tenants?
Any decent tenants would have no problem with a Tenant Register. But obviously Landlords are easy money cashcows!!
We can’t lose sight of the fact Tenants are struggling as well because of all the unnecessary changes making renting unaffordable then try and sell that nonsense to them that its for their own good, must think they are stupid.
I have taken on young people on low wages that wouldn’t have a hope of getting in elsewhere but they are working its good enough for me and no Deposit either.
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