Hot on the heels of Newham Council introducing the first Landlords License scheme, Liverpool City Council announces the opening of its city-wide Selective Licensing consultation.

The Mayor of Liverpool has issued a Ten Point Pledge to ensure that standards in the private-rented sector are high and if need be will be driven up to achieve this. A consultation for Selective Licensing, which is open until April, is an important part of the Mayor’s Pledge.

It is estimated by the Council that there are over 18,000 properties, out of the total of 42,000, that simply do not meet the requirements of the Government’s Decent Home Standards. It does not end there as the Council say that a further 8,000 properties have at least one category hazard.
Liverpool Council’s strategy to improve the housing standards is to introduce Selective Licensing across the City. So as with Newham, all landlords will have to register and pass a ‘fit and proper person’ check to be able to rent properties.

It does beg the question as to how “Rogue Landlords” will view this “request”, it is thought that they will just ignore it as they do with their standards of housing and just carry on as normal.
The council has pledged to work with the majority of responsible landlords, support their businesses and create a level playing field for all, while cracking down on those who do not manage their properties properly.

There is currently a compulsory licensing scheme for the 1,250 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the city, which the council says has driven an improvement in standards and property management.

All responses must be received by the Council in April. 2013