New plans to clamp down on poor housing and rogue landlords will be put into action in Oldham. An extended selective licensing scheme will allow the local authority to hold those renting out homes to higher standards.
A selective licensing scheme requires landlords in certain areas to apply for a licence to rent their properties, which includes checks on conditions and fairness of rental agreements. Councillors at the meeting argued the licensing was necessary after the recent surge in the private rental sector. Private renting has risen from four pc to 18 pc in Oldham in the last decade.
If carried out, the project will hit a greater number of landlords, who will have to cough up the £580 licensing fee or risk facing a maximum fine of up to £30,000. “I think the landlords are probably doing it because of the selective licensing. Charging the landlords £580 - is that wise when they’ll probably pass it on to tenants?”