New licensing scheme to protect renters in Bristol

Renters in Bristol will have greater protection under a new property licensing scheme that has gone live in three areas of the city this week.

Bristol City Council’s Cabinet approved plans to introduce licensing requirements to landlords of certain properties in Brislington West, Bedminster and Horfield in December, with the aim of improving housing standards.

The proposed schemes cover two types of licensing, including additional and selective.

Additional licencing will include houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), which includes houses or flats that are occupied by three or more unrelated people. Selective licencing will include private rented properties that are occupied by one or two tenants, or family but are not HMOs.

Additional licencing will apply in all three areas, whilst the selective licencing will only be introduced in Brislington West and Bedminster.

The Housing Act 2004 allows local authorities to require landlords of most privately rented accommodation to license their properties.

Licensing can be applied to specific areas of the city where evidence suggests there is poor quality, or poorly managed private rented housing.

Following the success of the licensing schemes in Stapleton Road, Easton; St George West and Eastville, and 12 wards in the city centre, the Council is looking to further improve both the accommodation, conditions and management practises in privately rented and multiple-occupied properties in these three new areas.

Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes said: ‘Property licensing is one of a number of tools we are using to make sure all rented properties in the city are up to a certain standard.

‘Living in a home that is in poor condition, or being badly managed, can have a significant negative impact on the health and wellbeing of tenants.

‘Although most private landlords provide a good standard of accommodation and service to their tenants, many do not. Some houses are in poor condition and poorly managed, with a significant number let to vulnerable tenants who are unaware of their rights or are not aware of the minimum standards of accommodation their landlord should provide.

‘We are clear that the small minority of rogue landlords and property agents who knowingly flout their legal obligations, rent out accommodation which is substandard and harass their tenants, should be prevented from managing or letting housing.’

The Council has also introduced a new policy that will make it easier for landlords to be added to the government’s Rouge Landlord database when a banning order has been issued against them.

Landlords have until Tuesday 5 July to submit their applications for their license and pay their fee. A license will normally last five years and conditions will be attached to them to ensure that minimum property standards are met.

Photo by Louis Reed