Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister has given consent to a council to introduce yet another selective licensing regime.

Blackpool council staged a 10 week consultation where 61.2% of tenants and 18.8% of landlords were in favour of the proposal. The selective licensing scheme includes eight wards across the inner area of Blackpool.

Every house, flat or room that is used as private rented accommodation within the designated area is required to apply for a licence, subject to the relevant exemptions, when the scheme begins on April 1 2025.

The standard licence fee for a single dwelling starts from £347 for the full five year period of the scheme, making it £69.40 per year for a single dwelling. Discounts are included in this fee for landlords meeting the so-called ‘Blackpool standard’ and those applying within the first three months of the scheme starting.

The licence fee for a single dwelling increases to £772 for landlords not meeting the Blackpool standard and not eligible for any other discounts.

The council claims the selective licensing scheme will be self-financing with all fees for the licence go back into running the scheme “and supporting landlords as much as possible.”

A council spokesperson says: “We are committed to improving housing conditions across the town, ensuring private rented homes are safe and provide a good standard of living for residents. 

“While we recognise that many landlords provide accommodation far above and beyond the minimum standards required by law in Blackpool, unfortunately there are many properties that fall below acceptable standards. 

“There is a strong link between poor housing standards and deprivation. The new selective licensing scheme will help tackle the high levels of deprivation in the designated area due to poorly maintained private rented properties. 

“We want to work with landlords and support them to make the necessary improvements to meet the Blackpool standards that our residents deserve. 

“While we recognise that many landlords provide accommodation far above and beyond the minimum standards required by law in Blackpool, unfortunately there are many properties that fall below acceptable standards. 

“There is a strong link between poor housing standards and deprivation. The new selective licensing scheme will help tackle the high levels of deprivation in the designated area due to poorly maintained private rented properties. 

“We want to work with landlords and support them to make the necessary improvements to meet the Blackpool standards that our residents deserve.”