Selective licensing in Cross Green and East End Park
What is selective licensing?
Section 82 of the Housing Act 2004, allows councils to apply to the government for approval to designate an area a ‘Selective Licensing’ area. If approval is granted then selective licensing is a tool that councils can use along with other initiatives to help regenerate areas by improving the private rented sector in that area.
The aim of selective licensing is to help to address issues of low demand affecting a given area and reduce the anti-social behaviour of tenants in privately rented properties in that area. Designation of an area of selective licensing then requires a landlord to obtain a licence to let their properties in the designated area.
In a selective licensing area the landlord must comply with the fit and proper person test included within the Housing Act 2004 to obtain a licence. His rented properties must be let within the terms of the licence conditions to ensure that the properties are safe and that the landlord can, and will, deal with anti-social tenants.
The licence conditions also cover issues of fire, gas and electrical safety, obtaining appropriate references prior to any tenancy being offered, keeping properties visually decent and ensuring that properties are well managed. A breach of any licence condition could lead, on conviction, to a fine of up to £5000.
Leeds City Council and Selective Licensing
Even though the majority of landlords in Leeds are good there are a few who show little or no interest in managing their properties responsibly. A small minority of landlords let their properties without really checking up on their new tenants. Designating an area as a selective licensing area helps the council to deal with bad landlords and should prevent those sort of problems happening in that area.
The council also looked in detail at how anti-social behaviour affected two specific areas of the city. This was done with partners and agencies that had an interest in those parts of the city. Information was collected to help the council have a better understanding about the housing market in those areas. The council also looked at the statistical information about the problems of anti-social behaviour and low demand in the areas and how selective licensing might help improve them.
East End Park and Cross Green was one of these areas and the information gathered in relation to that area supported what the council had been told by local residents and landlords in their consultations. The research showed that:
- 52% of empty properties were in the private rented sector.
- Approximately 30 percent of all homes in the area were privately rented. The average for the whole of Leeds was 10%.
- Average house prices in the area were lower than in other parts of the city.
- Anti-social behaviour and crime rates were higher in East End Park and Cross Green than in some other similar areas.
Before making the final decision about the proposals the council asked people living in the East End Park and Cross Green areas of east Leeds what they thought about the council’s proposals to introduce selective licensing. This consultation with both residents and landlords, about the proposals and the evidence gathered showed that selective licensing could have a positive impact on the area and the proposal was submitted to Government for approval to set up a selective licensing area in East End Park and Cross Green. The consultation process included
- Tenants, residents, landlords and other people with an interest in the East End Park and Cross Green areas who were consulted on their views of the scheme and the areas. The consultation started on 30 October 2007.
- A door to door survey was carried out in the two target areas and in neighbouring areas.
- Council officers attended local meetings in November 2007 to answer any questions regarding selective licensing.
- Discussions took place with lenders, landlords and managing agents to get their views on the proposed scheme.
What is the current position?
The designation came into effect on the 1st October 2009 and will remain in effect for up to a maximum of five years from that date. As of the 1st October 2009 all owners of privately rented properties required a licence to operate. Failure to have applied for and/or have obtained a licence by the 1st October could mean a fine, on conviction, of up to £20,000 for operating without a licence. Landlords will not be made responsible for the actions of their tenants but they are expected to take action if they know that their tenants are causing a problem.
A copy of the Government’s approval for the scheme and the actual notice of designation can be seen at Health and Environmental Action Services, Knowsthorpe Gate, Cross Green, Leeds, LS9 0NP and are also displayed as downloads on this webpage.
For further information about selective licensing please download the information guides for landlords and managing agents or tenants and residents on this webpage. Copies of the consultation survey, application forms and guidance to applicants are also available as downloads.
Please use the zoom function in any of the attachments to make the text a comfortable size to read.
The downloads at the end of the list of attachments (Cross Green Selective Licensing June 2011, Most improved Example 1, Most improved Example 2 and Most improved Example 3) show photographs of "before" and "after" shots around the area.
If you have any queries, require further information or wish to apply for a licence please do not hesitate to contact us
E-mail - selective.licensing@leeds.gov.uk
Telephone - 0113 3950044
Fax 0113 2477093
Write- Selective Licensing Team, Leeds City Council, Millshaw Park Way, Churwell, Leeds, LS11 0LS