Call to expand landlord licensing plan across city

A proposal to regulate landlords in parts of Leeds should be city-wide, according to a community union

Plans to regulate landlords in Leeds do not go far enough to protect tenants across the city, according to a community union.

A new licensing scheme, announced by the city council, will see tighter rules on private landlords in some of the city's most deprived communities.

Among the licensing conditions, landlords will be legally required to ensure gas or electric appliances work safely and their properties are in a decent state of repair.

Usman Akhtar, chairman of community group Acorn Leeds, welcomed the measures as "a big step in the right direction" but said they were "not big enough".

"I would much rather [the scheme] be city-wide", Mr Akhtar said.

About 12,500 privately rented homes will be covered by the scheme in the Armley, Beeston & Holbeck, Burmantofts & Richmond Hill, Gipton & Harehills, Hunslet & Riverside and Farnley & Wortley council wards.

All private landlords will be legally required to obtain a licence for any residential property they let.

Also included in licence conditions is a requirement to provide smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Acorn Leeds said people living in the city had complained of mould in their homes, broken appliances and even rats

Concerns raised to Acorn about living conditions in Leeds have included rats, mites and plumbing leaks in rental properties.

"It is awful, it is despicable, it is deplorable and it should not be happening in any of Leeds or anywhere in the country", Mr Akhtar said.

"When I was a boy, we lived in a mouldy flat; I was going to bed with double layers of socks and gloves to stay warm.

"Loads of people are still struggling in these conditions and that is not good enough for me, it should not be good enough for anyone.

"Imagine coming home, it has been raining all day and you have just got this big leak in your ceiling that your landlord is not taking any care to bother with.

"We could do much better, everyone has the right to a safe, secure, affordable home."

Usman Akhtar, chairman of Acorn Leeds, welcomed measures as "a big step in the right direction" but said they were "not big enough"

The scheme announced by Leeds City Council follows two previous selective licensing schemes covering Beeston and Harehills from 2020 until the start of this year.

More than 6,700 inspections and other visits were conducted by the council at privately rented properties.

Improvement work was carried out by landlords at about 1,430 homes where issues were identified.

About 400 civil penalties were issued to landlords who failed to do what was asked of them.

As this latest scheme was approved at a Leeds City Council meeting, Councillor Jess Lennox said the authority was "determined to ensure everyone in Leeds can enjoy the stability and sense of security that comes with having a safe, warm and well-managed place to live".

She added: "Given the clear link that exists between poor housing and poor health, it is our hope that this scheme will also have a really positive impact on the general wellbeing of residents in disadvantaged communities."

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