Liverpool landlord licensing scheme is approved by City Council

Tenancies must meet minimum standards according to Liverpool City Council. A landlord licensing scheme was approved following a three month consultation period. Implementation was set for April 2015.

The purpose of the licensing requirement is to ensure that basic tenant rights are recognised and protected. There are two primary focuses of the scheme.

1. Landlords must be deemed “fit and proper” to manage rental units. Previous patterns of neglect or otherwise failing to provide for the needs of tenants may disqualify a landlord from getting future rental units licensed.
2. Rental units have to meet minimum standards for safety and cleanliness. Pest control must be maintained. Electrical and gas lines and appliances must all be in proper working order. Complaints must be rectified in a reasonable period of time.

Landlords were generally opposed to the scheme and responded in high numbers to express their disapproval. While landlords hate it, tenants were overwhelmingly in favour of the new measures. Many had anecdotal evidence of past problems with landlords whom they say should never have been allowed to conduct business in a manner which they did.

Landlords oppose the measure for a number of reasons but it is primarily due to the additional effort required to license each individual rental unit. There is a financial reason as well, though city Council anticipates any related fees and cost less than £2 per week for each property. Accredited landlords are seeking to qualify under a reduced fee. Still that is a cost that can add up, especially considering the added administrative duties being placed on housing associations and large landlords.

This is essentially a situation where a few bad apples prompted the government to take additional measures that place and added burden onto landlords in Liverpool. It is expected that the new licensing scheme will weed out bad landlords that contribute to anti-social behaviour and declining property values.

The result should be good for tenants. Their properties would be better maintained and they can steer clear of bad landlords who are removed from circulation. The one downside is that landlord costs are generally passed on to tenants, which could see their rents increase by an extra ten pounds per month to cover the fees.