Nottingham selective licensing scheme a “shambles” says leading letting agent
Scheme designed to improve rented accommodation quality and safety within city faces open revolt among landlords and agents.
A licensing scheme in Nottingham is in trouble after it was revealed that only 10% of eligible properties have been signed up, even though the scheme is due to go live this Wednesday, 1st August.
A leading local letting agent has also called the scheme’s implementation a “shambles” and “poorly thought out”.
The new licensing scheme means landlords within the city must now apply for a license for each of their properties.
This follows a green light for the scheme from the Secretary of State. It is designed to ensure that privately rented properties within Nottingham meet safety and quality standards.
Landlords or their managing agents had been given approximately a month to apply for the licenses and pay either a £780 or £480 fee per property for the five-year duration of the scheme, depending on whether they are accredited local landlords or not.
The council is also charging landlords/agents £150 is their application requires extra work, £50 if they miss an inspection appointment and £30 for each additional letter that needs to be written.
Landlords who do not license their properties face stiff penalties including fines of up to £30,000 and having their properties taken over by the council.
Revolt
Despite such threats, it has been reported that local landlords are in ‘revolt’ over the new scheme and that licenses for only 3,140 out of the city’s 32,000 privately rented homes currently have license applications pending or completed.
Local agent David Thomas (left) of letting agency Liberty Gate told Nottingham Live that the scheme was “ruining the private rented sector” within the city and forcing landlords to sell up or raise rents.
“They are lucky they have 3,140. It can take weeks to get one application through and I have 120 I need to submit,” he said.
The affected areas of Nottingham are: Arboretum, Bestwood, Bulwell, Bulwell Forest, Basford, Berridge, Bridge, Clifton North, Clifton South, Dales, Dunkirk and Lenton, Leen Valley, Mapperley, Radford and Park, Sherwood, St Ann’s, Wollaton East and Lenton Abbey.
