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Largest landlord licensing
scheme in country is launched
APPLICATIONS for Liverpool's landlord
licensing scheme; aimed at driving up the quality of private rented housing in
the City; can now be made. The mandatory initiative requires all
landlords in the City to have a 5 year licence for each of their rented
properties.
Liverpool is the 1st major City to introduce a City wide 'selective
licensing' scheme, and up to 50,000 properties will be covered when it
becomes a legal requirement from 1 April 2015.
Landlords need to go online and complete the first part of the application
process at:-
Liverpool.Gov.UK/LandlordLicensing
before 1 April 2015, including their contact details and the properties they intend
to licence.
The licence fee will cost £400 per property and landlords with more than one
property will pay £350 for each additional home.
Members of an accredited or co-regulation scheme approved by the Council such as
CLASS will pay £200 per property to recognise that they are already a good
landlord.
Following feedback from landlord representatives, payments will be staggered.
Landlords will have to pay £100 per property at the second stage of registration
at the beginning of April 2015. They will then have until the end of the year to
pay the remaining balance. The City Council will need to determine that the proposed licence holder is a
'fit and proper' person to manage their properties including having regard,
amongst other things, to any convictions for dishonesty, violence or drugs or
contraventions of housing or landlord/tenant laws.
Landlords will have to meet a variety of conditions around fire, electric and
gas safety; rectifying disrepair issues; tackling pest infestations; keeping the
exterior in a good state of repair and dealing with complaints about anti-social
behaviour caused by tenants.
Liverpool City Council's Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for housing, Councillor Ann O'Byrne, said:-
"Everyone knows someone who has a horror story to tell about a bad landlord.
This scheme is about giving tenants some expectation of their rights, and the
City Council the power to tackle breaches.
Liverpool has a growing number of privately rented properties and the sector is
vital in meeting the City's housing needs, so it is important that what is on
offer is of high quality.
Although many landlords operate professionally, we are concerned about a number
of landlords who rent properties which fail to meet satisfactory standards of
tenancy and property management.
This has a negative impact on the health and welfare of local communities and on
a housing market that is already vulnerable in terms of vacant properties, low
house prices and depressed rental values.
Poorly managed properties also lead to problems such as anti social behaviour
and fly tipping, and are a blight on the City's neighbourhoods.
Responsible landlords who provide quality accommodation for tenants have
absolutely nothing to fear and that is why we have put in place substantial
discounts for those who are already members of accredited schemes, which in some
cases means it will cost around 75p per property per week. There are also
discounts for those with multiple properties, and of course all of the costs are
tax deductible. We are also giving them until the end of the year to pay the
total amount."
Residents who responded to a consultation were generally in favour of the
proposals – with 89% who were contacted in a telephone survey giving it the
thumbs up, while 59% of residents who completed an online questionnaire were
supportive. 66% of the other organisations asked about it also indicated their
support.
Alex Hilton, Director of Generation Rent which campaigns for professionally
managed, secure, decent and affordable private rented homes in sustainable
communities, said:- "Just like a week old sandwich, bad housing can put
people's health at risk. For the same reason sandwich shops are regulated,
renters shouldn't have to put up with a free for all in the housing market where
anyone can let out a grotty flat. This landlord licensing scheme will stop
criminals exploiting tenants and help serious landlords bring their standards
up, with huge benefit to the City's renters."
The fees will only be used for legitimate costs incurred by the Council such as
compliance checks to make sure landlords are meeting the conditions of the
licence.
People who were broadly supportive said it would make it easier to identify
absentee landlords and give tenants better consumer protection.
A major publiCity campaign is getting underway to promote the scheme and make
sure that landlords are aware of it. Applications can be made at:-
Liverpool.Gov.UK/LandlordLicensing. |
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City's newest
park is named
LIVERPOOL'S newest park, a
20 acre site, in Croxteth, is to be named Alt Meadows. The
name was chosen after the local community was asked to put forward
ideas about what to call the new green space. More than 50 names
were suggested by schoolchildren, residents and community
organisations. It's name,
Alt Meadows, was chosen by an overwhelming majority.
The park has been created on a brownfield site which has been
transformed by extensive civil engineering work, the diversion of
almost 1km of the River Alt, the creation of accessible paths,
meadow, wetland and woodland habitat.
Liverpool based charity, The Cass Foundation, have led the project
in partnership with the Community Forest Trust.
The Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said:-
"I saw the work
start on this park after the River Alt had been diverted and met the
local residents and schoolchildren who were thrilled about what was
being created. They will be the park users so it is only right that
they should choose its name – and they have made a very good choice.
It is a great example of how we are converting disused sites and
giving access to green space through all parts of the City. Alt
Meadows is a really attractive new green space which will benefit
local people and visitors."
The creation of the park was funded by DEFRA's Catchment Restoration
Fund, via the Environment Agency and Liverpool City Council. The
Catchment Restoration Fund was available to charities to deliver
projects that would contribute towards improving biodiversity or
water quality within catchments that were failing to reach good
standards within the EU Water Framework Directive.
Helen Rawlinson, The Cass Foundation, Project Manager said:-
"Over 2000 trees, nearly 4,000 shrubs and 2,100 wetland plants have
been planted by volunteers and the contractor. Sixty miles have been
covered during our regular Walk and Talks. Twenty conservation
volunteering and tree planting days have been held and the project
has received support from 300 volunteers. Birds have been surveyed,
mosaics have been created and 1400 people have attended our events
and activities. The community involvement has been fantastic."
The Cass Foundation has also been working with local schools and
community groups to develop new bonds with their local environment.
"It is
particularly good to see the involvement of local children taking
notice and pride in their new park. Active children equal healthier
children and when parents, grandparents, carers and friends get
active too then even better." said Richard Cass,
Chairman of The Cass Foundation.
Councillor Peter Mitchell, Mayoral Lead for Parks and Open Spaces,
added:- "This new green space is going to be a real and
lasting asset to Croxteh. The local community has really got
involved with it and I am sure there will be even more interest now
that it has a new identity."
Alt Meadows will be officially opened by the Mayor on Sunday, 29
March 2015, 12.30pm to 3.30pm, when the event will include fun, family
friendly, activities including seed sowing, environmental art and
crafts. All are welcome to attend.
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