Labour outrage at licensing scheme extension being rejected

The fallout continues over the government’s shock refusal to allow Liverpool council to continue its huge landlord licensing scheme.

Yesterday we reported that Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick declined the council’s bid to get a five year extension to its scheme.

Now the Labour Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, has written to Jenrick expressing “grave concern”.

Anderson says: “This decision is not only ill-thought through and short-sighted, it also puts the lives of some of our most vulnerable tenants at risk.

“This decision flies in the face of the government’s tough talk on housing standards, particularly around fire safety in rented properties.

“Over the last five years our officers have come across people whose landlords are happy to take their rent while allowing them to live in appalling conditions with unsafe electrics, gas supply and no fire doors to protect them in the event that a blaze breaks out.

“The Landlord Licensing scheme has enabled us to create a team to be able to hit the streets every day and carry out inspections of properties and bring rogue landlords to book. It is not just about raising housing standards – it is about protecting and saving lives.

“This government has already taken away £436m of our funding since 2010 and is now weakening our power to improve housing standards for those who are part of generation rent to the bare minimum.

“All of the talk of devolution away from Whitehall rings hollow when we see ministers in London making vital decisions about cities like Liverpool and other areas they never step foot in.”