Consultation on licensing of private rentals

[legalalien]

Southwark are currently carrying out a consultation on licensing of private sector rentals, this may be of interest to any private landlords or tenants locally as it includes (asI understand it) a proposal to roll out "selective licensing" of rentals to/by single family groups or two sharers, initially to the Champion Hill and Goose Green wards among others ( with future plans for most other wards inc. Dulwich Hill and Dulwich Wood, subject to govt approval). Essentially a landlord renting to just one family would need to be licensed and comply with various conditions. There are already schemes in place covering rentals to larger numbers of unrelated people.

The website says that they are keen to hear from landlords and, in paricular, tenants. More generally, the accompanying report is an interesting / eyeopening read about the levels and state of private rental properties in the various Southwark wards.

https://consultations.southwark.gov.uk/environment-leisure/2021-private-rented-sector-property-licensing-prop/

https://consultations.southwark.gov.uk/environment-leisure/2021-private-rented-sector-property-licensing-prop/supporting_documents/210209%20Information%20for%20consultation%20on%20licensing%20V2.2%20Final.pdf

[redpost]

"One of the major changes tothe PRS across London over the last 20 years has been the increase in rent. This has resulted in problems with residents being able to afford and access decent,affordable housing."

Yes, and mandatory licensing is only going to increase rents from decent landlords.

I'm a decent southwark landlord with an over compliant HMO (fire doors, fire alarm system, quick repairs, has a lounge and garden), I have to pay roughly ?1200 to comply every 3 years, this has gone mostly straight onto the rent. It has taken 20 emails and a year to get the southwark HMO license correctly sorted. Southwark haven't even bothered to visit the property.

Rogue landlords with dangerous properties will just continue business as usual.

[Abe_froeman]

Just another way for Southwark council to squeeze the pips.

They should butt out tbh

[alice]

How many dangerous Southwark landlords have been prosecuted in last year?

[HamletHarrier]

redpost Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> "One of the major changes tothe PRS across London

> over the last 20 years has been the increase in

> rent. This has resulted in problems with residents

> being able to afford and access decent,affordable

> housing."

>

> Yes, and mandatory licensing is only going to

> increase rents from decent landlords.

>

> I'm a decent southwark landlord with an over

> compliant HMO (fire doors, fire alarm system,

> quick repairs, has a lounge and garden), I have to

> pay roughly ?1200 to comply every 3 years, this

> has gone mostly straight onto the rent. It has

> taken 20 emails and a year to get the southwark

> HMO license correctly sorted. Southwark haven't

> even bothered to visit the property.

>

> Rogue landlords with dangerous properties will

> just continue business as usual.

From the Southwark website it looks like the licence should be for 5 years (rather than 3). Maybe they made a mistake in your case in which case get in touch with them?

[malumbu]

Rented out places in the 80s through to the 10s and saw regs increase. Many for the good for example gas and electricity safety, having known of people dying through carbon monoxide 30 years ago. The local authority regs were a mixed bag, A bit annoying as they varied, but did it anyway. Having to put door closures on knowing that the tenants detach them was a bit rubbish. Never had HMOs which required sprinklers and the like. But went with the flow.

I sense the tenants are at more of a disadvantage than in my day, perhaps as this market has grown so much, and few of the landlords that I have come into contact in recent years were as nice as me. Maybe they are just far more professional and business like that I was.

The other thing that I noticed with student lets was as the universities demanded more from landlords, some would go to letting agencies, and as they charged less that those through the uni, would have no problems renting. But you'd get a situation where the landlord was one step removed. I did most of it myself, and generally did not have a good experience of letting agents. The last place I had the family did a runner, and the agents didn't know what to do. When I went round there was hints of a cannabis factory, but not full on - explained why the tenant didn't want to have inspections. The agents didn't even have legit contact addresses. Sold it and that was the end of by to let for me.

Apols, I've digressed.

[legalalien]

Just to update on this, licensing proposals were approved at Cabinet on Tuesday, details are here

https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/b50013639/Appendices%20-%20Part%201%20Tuesday%2019-Oct-2021%2011.00%20Cabinet.pdf?T=9

If you are a local landlord worth checking / keeping an eye out for council communications - for those requiring one of the new licences there is an early bird discount on the fee that applies for the first three months. If renting to a single household (rather than multiple occupation) the selective licensing scheme only applies in some areas, these include Champion Hill and Goose Green.

[legalalien]

Just spotted this item in my council email bulletin:

We are introducing new property licensing schemes from 1 March 2022. These schemes will help to improve rented homes in the borough. If you apply between 1 March and 31 May 2022 you will automatically receive an early bird discount. Landlords and property managing agents can also sign-up to our mailing list for regular updates.

The info about the early bird licence fee is at https://www.southwark.gov.uk/home-owners-services/private-home-owners-and-landlords/private-rented-property-licensing?chapter=5&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term= (and there are links to other info about the scheme).

Just posting for awareness as I haven't seen loads of publicity about it.