A council is warning that landlords who fail to abide by selective licensing rules risk prosecution – a year after the scheme began.

Selective licensing for the inner area of Blackpool has been in place for almost a year.

More than half of the estimated 9,000 homes which fall under the latest scheme have registered. 

Of these, 30% meet the council’s so-called Blackpool Standard for property management. One-in-two landlords also qualified for scheme discounts by holding higher EPC ratings.

But now the council says private tenants are being encouraged to ask their landlords if their home is licensed to identify those not paying the authority.

A council spokesperson says: “There are still many people living in poor housing. 

“Tenants can ask their landlords if their home has been licensed, and if it meets the higher Blackpool Standard.”

Landlords within the designated area must adhere to a number of licence conditions around property management, tenancy management, fire safety and preventing anti-social behaviour.

To incentivise the improvement of properties and property management, discounts are available for homes which have an EPC rating of C or higher, or which meet the Blackpool Standard. 

Of the homes already licensed, 56% were eligible for discounted rates by holding an EPC rating of C or above.

The council spokesperson continues: “We’ve seen previous schemes drive down anti-social behaviour in neighbourhoods, showing the real value of these approaches.”