Here We Go Again: More Councils Want Licensing Schemes

Leicester is the latest council to begin consultations on selective licensing in six parts of the city - with the threat that other locations could be considered in future. It has launched a public survey on selective licensing in the six areas, with the claim that the initiative “would help safeguard would-be tenants, who would know their landlord is correctly licenced to operate” and “would also help finance action to tackle ongoing problems of antisocial behaviour.” The proposed scheme would cover about 20 per cent of the city’s private rented sector - so future schemes extending beyond that limit would need to be confirmed by the Secretary of State. Read more on the Letting Agent Today website.

https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2019/3/here-wo-go-again-more-councils-want-licensing-schemes

Councils to Increase Rents By 5.1 Per Cent on Average

Just three of the 25 top stock-owning councils in England will increase rents below government-set guidelines for 2013/14.  The vast majority of council tenants will face rent hikes of between 4.5 per cent and 6 per cent. The average increase will be 5.1 per cent.  Of those councils with at least 20,000 homes, just Lambeth, Leicester and Nottingham councils have elected not to apply the maximum increase possible.  Read more on Inside Housing.