Liverpool's controversial city-wide scheme to licence all properties in the private rental sector can go ahead - because it was already agreed prior to a government bid to clampdown on blanket schemes of that kind.
Liverpool council's cabinet member for housing, Cllr Ann O'Byrne, says in the Liverpool Echo: We have had confirmation from the government that Liverpool's landlord licensing scheme is not affected by the recently announced changes because we have already made a decision to introduce it.
The scheme is hugely controversial because it is blanket and large - there are estimated to be 50,000 privately rented homes in the city.
The council claims around 1,750 landlords responsible for 8,250 properties have so far registered. They have paid from £200 to £400 per property for a five year licence - the figure varies depending on how many rental properties are owned by landlords.
Licences will be awarded to landlords who pass fit and proper person' checks, which includes investigations into conviction histories regarding dishonesty, violence or drugs, or contraventions of housing law.
The council says the fees - which in total could run to £15m - will be used for legitimate costs incurred by the council such as compliance checks.
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