Brighton proposes landlord licensing scheme

A national landlords association said councils lacked resources to use powers to tackle rogue landlords "effectively"

A landlord licensing scheme for all private rental properties is being recommended for parts of Brighton.

All private residential landlords would have to apply for a licence costing £670 for five years and comply with licence conditions.

Brighton & Hove City Council says licences are needed to help tackle poor property conditions, reduce deprivation and help prevent homelessness if tenancies are ended abruptly.

But two-thirds of landlords who responded to the consultation opposed the scheme, saying it could it lead to fewer rental properties on the market.

The initial five-year scheme would start in September and affect 2,100 properties in Kemp Town, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queens Park, and Whitehawk & Marina.

The council also wants to extend the scheme to a further 9,500 properties in 13 other wards across the city.

Under government rules it is currently seeking permission from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to do so.

Councillor Gill Williams, chairperson of the housing & new homes committee, said: “We often hear from residents about their poor experiences and know the quality of management and maintenance is inconsistent.

Under the proposals, the licensing fee would mean:

• Landlords face a £670 standard fee for five years.

• A £75 discount for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C or above or if a property’s “potential” rating is met and had a rating of E or higher.

• A £50 discount for second property onwards.

• A £75 discount for registered charities.

• The fee is increased to £760 if the landlord fails to apply.

“We want to raise standards in privately rented homes in the city to make sure that all tenants in the sector live in safe, healthy and well-managed homes," she said.

She added that the proposed scheme would aim to tackle landlords who "fail to manage and maintain" properties.

Licence conditions could mean landlords would have to make repairs or upgrades to their properties.

But a spokesperson for the National Residential Landlords Association said the "majority" of landlords provided high-quality housing.

“Broad licensing schemes such as those proposed by the council are not a targeted method of enforcement, they simply pass the costs of regulation onto landlords, and in turn those struggling to access housing," the spokesperson added.