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London council gets green light for landlord licensing scheme after Liverpool was rejected
An east London council has bagged government approval to continue with a scheme to tackle “rogue” private landlords just a week after Liverpool had its application rejected.
Waltham Forest Council secured the rubber stamp from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) this week to continue operating the mandatory ‘selective licensing’ scheme for another five years, starting from May.
The scheme, part of the Housing Act 2004, means councils can make it a legal requirement for private landlords to hold a licence to help them tackle problems, such as anti-social behaviour. Landlords can face maximum fines of up to £30,000 for failing to comply.
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The initiative was first adopted in Waltham Forest in 2015, with around 27,000 licences handed out. A total of 94 prosecutions have been brought, resulting in fines of around £323,000, the council said.
Waltham Forest Council said it has evidence that more 8,000 rented homes in the borough contain “significant hazards”. Around a third of its residents are renters.
The new licence covers 18 out of the borough’s 20 wards, as oppose to the full borough under the previous licence. This is due to two wards not meeting the density threshold of private rented property.
Louise Mitchell, portfolio lead member – housing and homelessness prevention at Waltham Forest Council, said: “Our message to these rogue landlords is clear: if you want to rent property out in Waltham Forest, your property must meet the licensing scheme’s standards and you must ensure that your tenants are safe.
“If you do not, we will find out and take action against you. Tenants deserve to live safety, with security, and in comfort.”
A spokesperson for MHCLG confirmed that the local authority’s application had been approved, adding: “The safety and security of renters is our first priority and we’re committed to boosting the tough powers available to councils where they can demonstrate poor housing conditions.”
However, last week it emerged that MHCLG had rejected Liverpool City Council’s application to renew its licence.
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson disagreed with the decision, saying it “puts the lives of some of our most vulnerable tenants at risk” and has threatened to take it to court.
A source at MHCLG said the council did not make a “clear and demonstrable” case that it had a “significant problem” of low housing demand across the city or that it was likely to become an area of low housing demand.
At the time, an MHCLG spokesperson said: “Following careful and detailed consideration, it was decided that Liverpool City Council’s application for selective licensing did not demonstrate robust evidence to support the existence of low housing demand across the whole city.”
