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Council claims licensing scheme ‘has improved 3,100 homes’

The government has given the green light to a council’s huge licensing scheme, set to cover 18 of its 20 wards and starting on May 1.

Waltham Forest council, in its pitch to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, said there was evidence over 8,000 rented homes contained significant hazards. 

A borough-wide selective licensing scheme was first launched in Waltham Forest in April 2015 and ends on March 31 this year; there will be a one month period in which there will be no scheme, before the new one begins on May 1. 

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Under its old scheme, now approaching its end, the council says it has issued more than 149 Civil Penalties and over 50 interim management orders; pursued 94 prosecutions, resulting in more than £323,000 in court-imposed fines. 

It also claims credit for improving the condition of over 3,100 homes in the private rental sector.

Under the new regime starting this spring, there will be an early-bird discount for landlords signing up before the end of July.

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    • S S
    • 17 February 2020 09:46 AM

    Over 8,000 homes contain significant hazards! but only 194 civil penalties, 50 orders and 94 prosecutions = = 338. Figures don't add up here. If over 8,000 homes should be penalised for being hazardous, then the licence scheme is not working with only 338 penalties/orders/convictions. And with only £323,000 in revenue, I expect it didn't even pay for itself. But that's ok as all the law abiding, good LL are paying for it. I don't understand why Councils need licencing schemes other than for a money making scheme. They certainly dont stop rogue LL. If revenue was £323,000 the average penality was £1,665. That's hardly going to deter a rogue LL! Just wish there could be some joined thinking across the industry but unlikely with 19 Housing ministers in 20 years..

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    bang on

  • PossessionFriendUK PossessionFriend

    Cash cow, as it saves Central Govt from providing the funding.
    Licensing schemes and Civil Penalties is nothing less than a transfer of funding responsibility for Local Authorities onto the Private sector, PRS Landlords in particular.

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