Selective landlord licensing scheme successful in Manchester

Manchester City Council has reported on the success of a Selective Licensing Scheme in Crumpsall, leading to plans for the programme to be expanded to eight new areas of the city.

Landlords must apply for a licence to rent out a property in areas where the scheme applies, allowing the council to check properties and ensure they are the right people to manage them.

When landlords are found to be falling short of their responsibilities, councils can issue fines of up to £30,000 and, in extreme cases, can prevent the property from being rented or take control of it.

The scheme in Crumpsall has now ended after a five-year trial, in which 372 properties were licensed and fines of more than £36,000 were handed out to landlords accused of housing offences.

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:  ‘Ultimately, Selective Licensing is designed to increase the professionalism to which privately rented homes are managed – and we can see clear evidence from the first scheme in Crumpsall that serious issues have been found and landlords have been ordered to do works to improve their properties for residents.  

‘Of course we know that the majority of landlords in the city do take their responsibility seriously. But interventions like property licensing mean we can be serious about tackling those landlords who seem content in renting out homes that are either poor quality or dangerous.  There is no place for rogue landlords in our city. 

‘We want those landlords to know that this is unacceptable and we will do everything in our power to bring them to account. These 8 new schemes across the city will help us to achieve that.’

During the scheme in Crumpsall, 177 home inspections were required, with 18% of properties found to have serious hazards needing improvement works.

31 of the non-compliant properties had issues with fire safety, damp and mould and excessive cold, while two prohibition notices and two suspended prohibition notices were served to prevent dangerous properties from being rented out.

Eight new areas which could see the Selective Licensing scheme installed include streets in Moss Side, Levenshulme, Longsight, Cheetham and Rusholme.

Areas chosen to take part in the licensing programme usually face issues such as antisocial behaviour, poor property conditions, high levels of migration, deprivation or crime, and low housing demand.

Photo by Joe Cleary