Birmingham to Ensure That Landlords Are Providing Proper Accommodation
Birmingham City Council is to introduce a Selective Licencing Scheme for all private rented properties in 25 wards in the city. Housing Industry Leaders investigates how the scheme will ensure that landlords are proving fit and proper accommodation.
Birmingham City Council has been granted permission by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities under the Housing Act 2004 to introduce the scheme.
Targeting wards where the private sector is above 20 per cent of properties and there are high levels of deprivation and/or crime, the scheme will be the largest in the UK covering between 40,000 to 50,000 properties.
Issues Such As High Levels Of Crime Hope To Be Tackled
Councillor Sharon Thompson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness for Birmingham City Council, said: “The new scheme will help us drive up standards across the private rented sector.
“It was approved after extensive consultation and 130 new jobs will be created to deliver the scheme. We want to ensure that private properties in our poorest wards are providing fit and proper accommodation and that landlords are adhering to their legal responsibilities.
“While many already do, the introduction of licence conditions that cover a range of issues including waste bins, references and tackling anti-social behaviour will ensure the council is in a position to engage and regulate this sector appropriately.
“The Selective Licensing Scheme will allow Birmingham City Council to work with all landlords to drive up standards across all private rented sector properties and join up with other services such as the police to tackle issues such as the high levels of crime that have blighted these wards for too long.”
Improving standards in the longer term will lead to safer and more stable communities, enabling more tenants to fulfil their potential especially children.
Residents Have Provided Significant Support For The Scheme
Birmingham City Council undertook extensive consultation before progressing the scheme and this included meeting with Elected Members, focus groups and a flyer drop at all 125,000 properties in the 25 wards.
Over 800 responses were received from landlords, residents, and businesses/organisations. The Council has revealed that there was significant support for the scheme from these residents and businesses/organisations. A licence to landlords will cost £700 for up to five years and the scheme will commence on 5 June 2023.
