Selective Licensing
Local Authorities have been given a discretionary power to
designate an area(s) as subject to selective licensing. This
licensing scheme would cover all privately rented properties in the
designated area not just HMOs.
The power is available to use:
- Where an area is, or is likely to become, an area of low
housing demand and making a designation will, when forming part of
an area regeneration strategy, contribute to the improvement of the
social or economic conditions in the area;
- Where an area is experiencing a significant and persistent
problem caused by anti social behaviour which some or all private
landlords letting in the area are not combating, and making a
designation will, when forming part of an anti-social behaviour
reduction strategy, lead to the reduction in, or the elimination
of, the problem.
All privately rented properties within the selective areas will
be required to be licensed. The licence holder must be a "fit and
proper person".
Conditions may be attached to the licence.
It will be an offence to let a property in an area of selective
licensing without a licence.
A fee can be charged to recover some of the costs of operating
the scheme.