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The government has recently announced a crackdown on landlord licensing schemes and from April 1 all local authorities will have to seek ministerial approval if they want to implement a licensing scheme.
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Good Landlords are Suffering
The government believes that blanket landlord licensing schemes are unreasonable. They say good landlords are being unfairly penalised while bad landlords take no notice, and tenants are suffering because landlords are forced to out up the rent to cover their extra costs.
Housing Minister Brandon Lewis says: “The vast majority of private landlords offer a decent service – so I’m determined we end the ‘tenants tax’ caused by draconian measures that do nothing to tackle rogue operators and only serve to push up rents. I want councils to take targeted action and focus their efforts on tackling that small number of landlords who make their tenants’ lives a misery – and help create a bigger, better private rented sector as a result.”
Croydon Council – Full Steam Ahead
Croydon council in north London is keen to implement a licensing scheme before the April 1 deadline. Council officers are meeting with councillors today and are expected to recommend that the council push through a scheme as soon as is practicable.
If they are successful, landlords in Croydon will have to pay some pretty steep fees to be able to operate buy to let properties in the borough. The cost of a landlord license in Croydon is £750 per property for a five-year term, although this can be reduced to £350 if the landlord applies for a license within 3 months of the start of the scheme.
