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Written by rosalind renshaw

A London borough could become the first local authority in England and Wales where every single private landlord and rental property will have to be licensed.


Newham council – which recently said it was considering buying up swathes of private rental property and becoming a landlord  itself – has launched a consultation on compulsory borough-wide licensing. Now other local authorities could follow.


The Government has made it clear that, whilst it does not back the idea of mandatory regulation of private landlords, it is happy for local councils to use to the full the licensing powers that they have.


Inviting views, the council says: “Newham has a thriving private rented sector that provides affordable housing options for local people; but the Council is concerned about possible overcrowding and anti-social behaviour in some properties.

“Therefore, the Council is thinking of licensing private landlords and properties in the borough – in order to ensure that landlords, managing agents, tenants and owners operate legally and professionally.”

The consultation runs until December 4.

Newham estimates around one third of households in the borough are in the private rented sector, numbering around 35,000 homes. It has already piloted a smaller scale licensing scheme for over a year.

Sir Robin Wales, mayor of Newham, said: “We want to ensure that private sector rented properties are well managed and meet a good standard. We also want to deal with the crime and anti-social behaviour that is sometimes associated with bad private sector rented housing.

“There are good landlords in Newham and we want to work with them. Unfortunately there are also some unscrupulous ones – which these proposals would target.”

Shelter welcomed the Newham move. Kay Boycott, director of communications, policy and campaigns, said: “We urge other local councils to follow Newham’s lead in sending a clear signal that enforcing the law against rogue landlords is a priority.”

Comments

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    The creation of jobs??
    A reason to expand an empire with the mentality I can do it so I will??
    I will make the majority pay 'cos the minority give me a reason!
    Blue sky thinking without so much as a toe on the ground!
    The extra income can subsidise the extra staff they need!
    No...I don't trust them.

    • 05 October 2011 13:25 PM
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    I see the Big "C" is still alive and well in the Liebour Camp

    Look at this joke of a Lord Mayor
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Wales

    • 01 October 2011 19:07 PM
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    "Newham council – which recently said it was considering buying up swathes of private rental property and becoming a landlord itself " ------ This is the key! Stifle competition and push up the rental cost and make the properties unaffordable and make money by themselves! Improving life of the tenants? What a laugh!

    • 30 September 2011 12:44 PM
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    Councils have powers to deal with overcrowding already. Anti-social behaviour is more likely to be caused by the tenants themselves than anything to do with the landlords. Southend council are considering bringing in Selective Licensing to 3 areas which they claim will help with ASB problems in these areas - but the properties causing the problems are already licensed as HMOs so they should start by using their existing powers effectively before burdening private landlords with any more. The government say they are against extra regulation and yet councils are free to introduce this - with a charge! We have started an e-petition on the governments website. Please add your name! http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/17083
    Crystal Horwood
    Managing Director
    PACE Properties, Southend

    • 30 September 2011 11:42 AM
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    This is more about building empires. These people love regulations for "other people" and all the extra staff needed to manage the process. They seem to ignore the fact that they are supposed to be reducing their budgets. Rogue landlords would ignore it anyway.

    • 30 September 2011 11:42 AM
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    What would a Council know about professionlism ??? Have they ever seen how they act as a landlord. I would not even put my dog in their properties. It all about extortion of money !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • 30 September 2011 10:16 AM
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