Accrington Web - View Single Post

Eafield · 13-04-2010, 21:33

Selective licencesing! Where did it come from, mandatory licenceing has been around for some time and was well publisiced. It seems looking at this Mr Jones has single handedly pushed this matter through with the obvious objection of HBC.

Interestingly, according to CLAYTONENDER “Over the last 10 days, Labour councillors their relatives and friends have delivered a leaflet explaining about the scheme (and showing a map of the area) - which will be the largest in England. Unless landlords have a license they will not be allowed to rent out properties.” A comment posted on the 5/4/2010, I would like to know how the leaflet was produced and then distributed over the last ten days, considering aproval wasn’t given until the 31/4/2010? Seems to me there is a little crossover here. Politics eh?

As a landlord myself, I concur, licensing is a good thing and should be introduced, however this scheme has been thrown through on a knod and a wink with blaitant ommisions and flaws, with little and no public consultation.

Reasearch consisted of 10,000 enquiries of which only 2,000 were returned, of the 2,000, 80% were in favour. Im not being funny but who interprets these facts and figures, is it a requirment that they have no uunderstandin of their goals?

It doesn’t take a genius to realise that the returned questionaires were returned by homeowners who would have inevetably been in favour. Does it not thereofre make sense that areas with a low response rate are likely high rental areas, as such are these not the very areas that need looking at further. Springhill, who knows the homeowner percentage figures, I have no doubt this area is in excess of 80% rented, not only that has anyone consulted the Police for information relating to anti-social instances in this area. I know what they would say and what about the state of the yards in this area. Just two of the things supposedly targeted.

Licencesing – good idea in principal – perhaps a little more selective though.
A few intresting requirements-

5. The licence holder is required to obtain references for people wishing to occupy the house

No more renting to friends or family without written reference.

7. That an Energy performance Certificate has been prepared for the property within the last five years

Welcome to a new stealth TAX – watch this space, EPCs where the backbone of the magical HIP. HIP what a waste of time, just a sly way of introducing EPCs to the home market, EPC have been mandatory for the last few years on all rented properties and comercial properties. Not too long from know your council tax is going to change probably banded within the current bands based on energy efficiency, just as they have with car tax and co2 emissions. Shouldn’t make promises to Brussells that we can’t keep!

10. That the licence holder reminds occupiers of their responsibilities as regards the storage of refuse on the property

Perhaps on this point we could get started on social standards and individual responsibility for own actions – or alternatively we could remove all the common sense in this world and legislate to cover our arses.

12. That at change of tenancy the dwelling be in a clean and tidy condition with reasonable levels of decoration

Don’t want to harp on, perhaps we could improve education, inject some sense of personal responsibility upon individuals and ask minority of “scumbag” tenants to leave the properties as the find them, better still maybe we could introduce a system that doesn’t require a landlord spends hundreds of pounds pursuing bad tenants and furthermore allows for a legal system that actually provideds for some justice when tenants leave properties in a mess. A tenant in receipt of benefit and not working can currently be taken to court if they cause damage and or owe you money, however the court “will not take any money from them whatsoever” as they are on benefits. That’s if you even know where they are, because the data protection act definitely wont let you find them if they don’t want you too.

13. That licensed properties which are vacant be kept secure and free of accumulations of refuse

Flytippers, how many landlords are flytippers? Empty house, rented next door suddenly your yard is full of rubbish, YOUR FAULT! Sort it within 7 days or ther will be hell to pay.

14. That all applicants for a licence be either members of the Hyndburn Accredited Landlord Scheme, or categorised as ‘seeking accreditation’

This is the BEST ONE OF ALL, sorry to go on. Hyndburn BC had one member of staff handling accreditation within the borough. Mrs Webb she went on long term sick a year ago and she hasn’t been replaced, official line from the council is that there is no one dealing with accreditation at this time. Council officials have stipulated you be members of a scheme that currently doent really exist, when asked by myself the official response is “we will get round it”. Bad news for any landlord that wasn’t accredited before 2008, you might struggle to get a licence.

16. That the licence holder takes all possible actions to remove occupiers were there is evidenced criminal activity or anti-social behaviour

Comes back to the courts on this one. Tenant must be two months in arrears to serve section 8 notice, or alternative section 21 can be serrved but must be minimum of two months, court applications have been taking up to 8 further weeks in Accriington (via Blackburn) non paying tenant doesn’t bother to turn up to court hearing and the judge will still give them a further 28 days to get out. Hows being a landlord sound so far?

Licensing could and would work, but drawing a line around most of Accrington isnt the way it should be done. Give more power to the enviromental health office, two strike rule for all landlords, publicise it to all tenants, that way the landlords that need regulating will be the landlords affected.

Typical government punishes the bulk of law abiding individuals for the shortcoming of the few!

13-04-2010, 21:33	#50
Eafield Junior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 28 Liked: 0 times Rep Power: 0	Re: Selective Licensing of Landlords Selective licencesing! Where did it come from, mandatory licenceing has been around for some time and was well publisiced. It seems looking at this Mr Jones has single handedly pushed this matter through with the obvious objection of HBC. Interestingly, according to CLAYTONENDER “Over the last 10 days, Labour councillors their relatives and friends have delivered a leaflet explaining about the scheme (and showing a map of the area) - which will be the largest in England. Unless landlords have a license they will not be allowed to rent out properties.” A comment posted on the 5/4/2010, I would like to know how the leaflet was produced and then distributed over the last ten days, considering aproval wasn’t given until the 31/4/2010? Seems to me there is a little crossover here. Politics eh? As a landlord myself, I concur, licensing is a good thing and should be introduced, however this scheme has been thrown through on a knod and a wink with blaitant ommisions and flaws, with little and no public consultation. Reasearch consisted of 10,000 enquiries of which only 2,000 were returned, of the 2,000, 80% were in favour. Im not being funny but who interprets these facts and figures, is it a requirment that they have no uunderstandin of their goals? It doesn’t take a genius to realise that the returned questionaires were returned by homeowners who would have inevetably been in favour. Does it not thereofre make sense that areas with a low response rate are likely high rental areas, as such are these not the very areas that need looking at further. Springhill, who knows the homeowner percentage figures, I have no doubt this area is in excess of 80% rented, not only that has anyone consulted the Police for information relating to anti-social instances in this area. I know what they would say and what about the state of the yards in this area. Just two of the things supposedly targeted. Licencesing – good idea in principal – perhaps a little more selective though. A few intresting requirements- 5. The licence holder is required to obtain references for people wishing to occupy the house No more renting to friends or family without written reference. 7. That an Energy performance Certificate has been prepared for the property within the last five years Welcome to a new stealth TAX – watch this space, EPCs where the backbone of the magical HIP. HIP what a waste of time, just a sly way of introducing EPCs to the home market, EPC have been mandatory for the last few years on all rented properties and comercial properties. Not too long from know your council tax is going to change probably banded within the current bands based on energy efficiency, just as they have with car tax and co2 emissions. Shouldn’t make promises to Brussells that we can’t keep! 10. That the licence holder reminds occupiers of their responsibilities as regards the storage of refuse on the property Perhaps on this point we could get started on social standards and individual responsibility for own actions – or alternatively we could remove all the common sense in this world and legislate to cover our arses. 12. That at change of tenancy the dwelling be in a clean and tidy condition with reasonable levels of decoration Don’t want to harp on, perhaps we could improve education, inject some sense of personal responsibility upon individuals and ask minority of “scumbag” tenants to leave the properties as the find them, better still maybe we could introduce a system that doesn’t require a landlord spends hundreds of pounds pursuing bad tenants and furthermore allows for a legal system that actually provideds for some justice when tenants leave properties in a mess. A tenant in receipt of benefit and not working can currently be taken to court if they cause damage and or owe you money, however the court “will not take any money from them whatsoever” as they are on benefits. That’s if you even know where they are, because the data protection act definitely wont let you find them if they don’t want you too. 13. That licensed properties which are vacant be kept secure and free of accumulations of refuse Flytippers, how many landlords are flytippers? Empty house, rented next door suddenly your yard is full of rubbish, YOUR FAULT! Sort it within 7 days or ther will be hell to pay. 14. That all applicants for a licence be either members of the Hyndburn Accredited Landlord Scheme, or categorised as ‘seeking accreditation’ This is the BEST ONE OF ALL, sorry to go on. Hyndburn BC had one member of staff handling accreditation within the borough. Mrs Webb she went on long term sick a year ago and she hasn’t been replaced, official line from the council is that there is no one dealing with accreditation at this time. Council officials have stipulated you be members of a scheme that currently doent really exist, when asked by myself the official response is “we will get round it”. Bad news for any landlord that wasn’t accredited before 2008, you might struggle to get a licence. 16. That the licence holder takes all possible actions to remove occupiers were there is evidenced criminal activity or anti-social behaviour Comes back to the courts on this one. Tenant must be two months in arrears to serve section 8 notice, or alternative section 21 can be serrved but must be minimum of two months, court applications have been taking up to 8 further weeks in Accriington (via Blackburn) non paying tenant doesn’t bother to turn up to court hearing and the judge will still give them a further 28 days to get out. Hows being a landlord sound so far? Licensing could and would work, but drawing a line around most of Accrington isnt the way it should be done. Give more power to the enviromental health office, two strike rule for all landlords, publicise it to all tenants, that way the landlords that need regulating will be the landlords affected. Typical government punishes the bulk of law abiding individuals for the shortcoming of the few!