A new landlord licensing scheme that will cover in the region of 30,000 private rented homes is being introduced in Oxford.
Oxford City Council’s ‘selective licensing’ scheme was given the go-ahead, meaning that all private rented homes in the city will need a licence from September.
Close to half – 49.3% – of all Oxford’s homes are privately rented.
Licensing will require landlords to show they are meeting safety and management standards, and are a ‘fit and proper person’.
Imogen Thomas, the city council’s private sector tenants’ champion, welcomed the government approval.
She said: “A licensing system for the entire private rented housing sector in Oxford was a key part of Labour’s four-year manifesto at the 2021 elections – and we are delighted to say that it will be delivered ahead of schedule.
“From September 1, all privately rented homes in Oxford will need to be licensed.
“That means that conditions will be improved, tenants will be safer, and law-abiding landlords need not fear being undercut by the cowboys.
“Tenants in the private rented sector are all too often left at the mercy of a system that it is weighted against them.”
They will find a few bad houses. Much more will get worse cause the good landlords now have less funds.
And watch the rent increases and homeless spiral upwards.
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So lets get this right “…. Licensing will require landlords to show they are meeting safety and management standards, and are a ‘fit and proper person”.
The fit and proper person are the local authorities etc who in the main for decades have not Policed standards.
Landlords already have to comply without licensing and has been proven since the begging of time with our courts system and jails around the globe …. ‘fit and proper person’ is a mind set. Other councils who have licensing regime have been raking in the fee’s but very little proactive enforcement and when they do …. they use existing powers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I wonder what definition will be used for a ‘fit and proper person’ though… Considering how MP’s and local councillors generally behave, I don’t think they are really on the moral high-ground to pass judgement…
In general, I like the idea of landlord and Agent licensing, as it will allow tenants to make sure they have someone aware of what is needed, and not some numpty who inherited a house and wouldn’t know an electrical certificate if it goosed him with 10,000 volts. BUT that doesn’t mean we should be held over a barrel for annual fees, fines etc. Making someone have something in order to go about their job should not break the bank.
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Imogen Thomas, the city council’s private sector tenants’ champion said: “A licensing system for the entire private rented housing sector in Oxford was a key part of Labour’s four-year manifesto at the 2021 elections – and we are delighted to say that it will be delivered ahead of schedule. From September 1, all privately rented homes in Oxford will need to be licensed. That means that conditions will be improved, tenants will be safer, and law-abiding landlords need not fear being undercut by the cowboys.” ***“Tenants in the private rented sector are all too often left at the mercy of a system that it is weighted against them.”*** The last sentence dictated by Polly Bleat of Shelter?
In her own words: “I have also been active with community union ACORN, reaching out to people in rent arrears during the pandemic and joining the Housing is Health and No COVID Evictions campaigns. As a spokesperson for ACORN Oxford, I made several media appearances to draw attention to government inaction and the lack of legislation to protect tenants during the pandemic.”
Just how were tenants NOT protected during the pandemic. Typical Labour/Acorn supporter telling porkies.
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and just how much is this licence going to cost.?Taking into consideration that when you rent a house out through a agent you have to have all the necessary certificates gas check electrical safety check and carbonmanoxcide boxes.
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I suggest Credit check the landlord or if they have mental health problems as they will abuse the tenants right to privacy and dignity over the roof they call home if they do, acholics and drug addict included.. rant over there are some spoilt people out there.
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