A Labour councillor is working to create a city-wide licensing scheme following what he claims is the success of smaller initiatives.

Minesh Parekh, who sits on Sheffield council, says his support for licensing began in 2019 as a supporter of direct action activist group Acorn.

He claims that two licensing schemes covering specific parts of the city have led to £1.45m being spent by private landlords on what he says were  “dangerous properties.”

Now Parekh wants more.

In an article on Now Then – a website described as ‘citizen journalism’ operated by a ‘worker-owned company’ – he says: 

“Since my election, I’ve been calling on Sheffield Council to introduce city-wide landlord licensing. 

“Licensing is a tool that councils can use to improve the standard of privately rented properties.”

He suggests that a city-wide system would “improve housing standards across the city and take action against exploitative landlords.”

He continues that a committee “will be designing a scheme to meet the needs of our private rented sector.”

Parekh adds: “This will then go out to public consultation to give you a chance to have your say.”

However he may well have made up his own mind already, ahead of a consultation, by adding: “If you agree with me that we should have a city-wide scheme, please consider letting the council’s private housing standards team know.”

You can read the full article here: https://nowthenmagazine.com/articles/sheffields-private-landlords-have-failed-too-many-of-us-its-time-to-introduce-proper-regulation-licensing