A proposed amendment to the Renters (Reform) Bill would limit selective licensing, a key ability of local housing authorities to proactively inspect privately rented properties
Selective licensing schemes involve designated areas where privately rented properties have to be licensed with the local authority.
The Renters (Reform) Bill was first announced in May of 2023, but has faced significant opposition from a number of Conservative MPs.
The ban on no-fault evictions has been a particularly controversial part of the bill, with critics concerned that it will cause landlords to sell properties rather than follow the new guidelines- and therefore reduce the number of rental properties available.
Proponents of the bill argue that it will offer tenants more protections against poor standards and practices in the private rental sector- protections partially secured by selective licensing.
Draft government amendments seen by the BBC may weaken the Renters (Reform) Bill
The amendments were being shared with Conservative MPs critical of the bill, with the documents promising a review of selective licensing “with the explicit aim of reducing burdens on landlords”.
Tom Darling, campaign manager of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said: “It is scandalous and farcical that the government are now outsourcing the writing of the Renters (Reform) Bill to their landlord backbenchers. It reeks of desperation.”
Stripping away a proactive approach to improving housing standards
The CIEH says that licensing provides the only means for local authorities proactively to inspect privately rented housing, removing the need for tenants to have complained.
Louise Hosking, executive director of Environmental Health at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), commented: “We are concerned by suggestions that the proposed Property Portal removes the need for selective licensing schemes. Licensing is a systematic and proactive approach to improving housing standards rather than just collection of information.
“We believe that the Government, far from watering down selective licensing, should be removing unnecessary barriers to local authorities using licensing schemes to improve housing standards.”
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