Landlords in Southend are being targeted by a icencing scheme designed to stamp out homes that have fallen into disrepair in deprived areas, the Southend Echo reports.
The licencing scheme will be launched on December 1st, costing landlords £688 for a five-year licence, though those who apply before that date will get a discount.
Southend Council will carry out property inspections to make sure they are fit for purpose.
Ian Gilbert, leader of the council, said: “This has been a key priority for our administration over a number of years.
“We’re already committed legally that the system will be ready to receive applications by December 1, which is a challenging timeline but one which we’re determined to hit.”
The scheme will apply in nine neighbourhoods, within the Milton, Kursaal, Victoria and Chalkwell wards.
These were selected for having a reputation for poor property conditions, as well as crime and anti-social behaviour.
The scheme was first announced in March.
Laurie Burton, councillor responsible for children and learning, said: “They have had enough time to get their house in order and the time has come to clamp down on rogue landlords and say to good landlords we support you.”
She added: “I’m really pleased we’re doing this. I think this is a real achievement for the coalition in terms of something that is going to have an absolute marked improvement on the lives of the most vulnerable people.
“I’ve met so many people who have landlords who just refuse to do anything and it’s just not fair.
“The odds are stacked against people if they don’t have the money to move home.
“Not everyone has a deposit so they can just move somewhere else, especially if you are on Universal Credit. You can’t find another landlord to take you so you end up stuck with a landlord who is just not doing what is needed.”
More like the council will have a good celebration this Christmas. So Laurie Burton says there are some landlords who are rogues need regulating so we are going to screw every landlord for nearly £700 with the political rubbish of saying we are supporting good landlords. If you are supporting good landlords don’t require them to be licensed. Political rubbish this is about raising funds and milking people the public feel may be wealthy landlords – but rents will rise to cover the fees and additional administration – the public at large will loose out. Working with this logic if there is one bad council officer in the council you should regard them all as bad.
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Will2 says it all.
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Hard to believe that anyone can truly be against safeguarding tenants from unscrupulous landlords who are well aware of the legal requirements to provide safe and secure housing for families and individuals yet choose to ignore those minimum standards for personal gain. I have some understanding of the reasons why some would oppose these schemes particularly those landlords who offer clean and safe accommodation but if by using the money collected and ensuring all rental properties are then inspected with and landlords subsequently advised of the necessary repairs and or improvements needed to bring those properties up to a minimum standard can anyone be against such a scheme? If everyone played by the rules there would be no need for such a scheme but regrettably that is often not the case and if the need to obtain a license saves just one life by ensuring that for example boilers and electrical wiring are regularly inspected and repairs carried out in a timely manner and properties which are unfit for human occupation are identified and shut down then go ahead.
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Who has suggested tenants should not be protected/safeguarded? Councils have loads of legislation they can use and powers to level disgustingly high penalties. Then of course you have councils like Croydon who provide accommodation that a rogue landlord would be proud of, as seen in the press and on TV. Yes Croydon the borough to raced in to ensure full boroughwide licensing to raise their income – and then do not safegaurd their own tenants!!! That’s value isn’t it! The vast majority of landlords are good decent people who provide good accommodation but are being blighted by the propaganda intended to generate funding for councils. The satisfaction rate in the PRS is somewhere around 85%. The decent landlords are having to charge higher rents to fund greedy councils. Landlord targetting by the political cretins and a purple conservative party (now becoming more red than blue) keen to grab attention where they feel they can get the highest number of votes.
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……. and how much are landlords charged to ‘register’ in Wales £36.
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I can have respect for licensing when it INCLUDES Council Housinfg and Housing Assocaitions, some of whom have an appalling record for lack of repairs and lomg waits.
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