The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health says it’s secured critical backing for amendments to the Renters Rights Bill.
The Bill is currently in the House of Lords and the CIEH – which wants many more and longer private rental licensing regimes conducted by councils – says a Liberal Democrat peer Lord Shipley has taken up its cause.
Shipley – Vice President of the Local Government Association and a former leader of Newcastle City Council – is reported to have tabled two amendments written by the CIEH.
The move comes after Green MP and co-leader Carla Denyer tabled the amendments in the House of Commons.
CIEH says the two amendments would remove “unnecessary barriers to the use of licensing schemes to improve housing standards.” They are backed by the Renters’ Reform Coalition, an activist coalition including student groups and renters’ unions as well as CIEH.
The first amendment would enable local authorities operating selective licensing schemes “to use licence conditions to improve housing conditions.”
CIEH has highlighted what it claims to be a “peculiar disconnect” in current legislation whereby local authorities can introduce selective licensing schemes to address poor housing conditions but cannot include in the licence itself conditions requiring the physical state of the licensed property to be improved. The first amendment would address this issue.
The second amendment would increase the maximum duration of licensing schemes from five to 10 years. CIEH argues that this would allow local authorities to advertise longer term posts and to include training of new staff in these schemes.
Mark Elliott, President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, says: “Licensing provides a means for local authorities to inspect privately rented housing using enforceable conditions – and to identify and resolve problems – without the need for tenants to have complained.
“Our amendments would make it easier for local authorities to use licensing schemes to improve housing standards. We are delighted to have obtained support for them from politicians from different political backgrounds.
“These are sensible and constructive amendments and we urge the Government to accept them.”
