Property lawyer blasts selective licensing as ‘money-making’

A leading solicitor has attacked selective licensing schemes as merely ‘money-making’ schemes for local councils.

Des Taylor, Director at Landlord Licensing & Defence (main picture), warns that many landlords are unaware of a licensing scheme in their area and could face prosecution for failing to comply.

Unjustified

Selective licensing schemes are intended to improve the standards and management of PRS properties in areas with low housing demand or high levels of antisocial behaviour.

But Landlord Licensing & Defence argues that these schemes are ineffective, unjustified and costly for landlords who face the risk of prosecution for breaching licence conditions that are often unreasonable and beyond their control.

There is no evidence that a licensing scheme ever achieves the outcomes promised.”

Taylor says: “It looks like licensing is here to stay and more and more licensing is coming about with new selective licensing schemes coming into city areas outside London, including the recently and most publicised Birmingham City Council and Nottingham City Council schemes.”

“There is no evidence that a licensing scheme ever achieves the outcomes promised at the time of the proposal.”

Most of the time it is more revenue for the council in licensing fees.”

“There does not appear to be any justification most of the time and some are abandoned, some are renewed yet little, or nothing is achieved by the schemes,” he says.

“Most of the time it is more revenue for the council in licensing fees and the ability to enforce under a breach of licence conditions.”

Check carefully

Many landlords and agents do not realise how important it is to comply with selective licensing schemes, he says.

He advises landlords who are applying for licences for the first time, or who already have licences, to check them and read the conditions carefully.

Another big council to introduce Selective Licensing to ‘boost standards’