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Selective Licensing for the North West

from "UK Landlord" magazine, July 2007

Tom Reynolds, the NLA's Regional Representative for the North West, reports that applications by local authorities in Salford, Manchester and Middlesbrough (in the North East) to apply selective licensing have now been approved. This will be of concern to landlords in the area already overburdened by excessive legislation and red tape.

Selective licensing came in under the Housing Act 2004 and allows councils to apply to the Government to adopt designated areas where there is (or could be) a low demand for housing, or where there are significant anti-social behaviour problems. All privately rented properties will need a licence and landlords will need to show that they have suitable management arrangements, and are 'fit and proper' people.

At an event held by Salford Council to celebrate its success in being the first to achieve selective licensing, both Salford and Manchester City indicated it was their intention to "roll out" selective licensing across their boroughs. Middlesbrough Council has been able to apply selective licensing as from June 2007. Tom Reynolds was running an NLA stand at the event and managed to voice his concern to Hazel Blears, Labour's MP for Salford, which she referred to in her address. Tom told UK Landlord that "Overall, the Salford event was a very happy day for councils - and a sad day for landlords."

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