According to recent research conducted by the Local Government
Information Unit 33% of councils are considering the introduction of
compulsory licensing in an attempt to regulate the private rented
sector better. Nearly all of them also believe that local authorities
“have an important role to play” in the private rental sector.
One of the main reasons councils are beginning to sit up and take
more notice of the private rented sector is that increasing numbers
of people are renting their homes from private landlords. Figures
from the latest census indicate that the number of people renting
homes in the private sector has increased by a whopping 88% since
2001. Local Authorities are also using homes in the private rented
sector to place homeless families and others in need of
accommodation, mainly because there is such a shortage of council
properties.
Why are councils pushing for compulsory licensing?
Safety is a big issue with accommodation in the private sector. Most
landlords take their responsibilities seriously, but there are a
small minority who fail to carry out safety checks on gas and
electrical installations or take notice of fire safety legislation.
Councils are worried that there is not enough regulation is place and
vulnerable tenants are at risk.
Phil Buckle from the Electrical Safety Council has been quoted in the
Guardian as saying: “Despite the fact that electrical accidents are
the number one cause of domestic fires in Great Britain, most
landlords are not legally required to have their electrics checked or
provide their tenants with safety certificates – a requirement for
gas certificates has been compulsory since 1998. With increasing
numbers of people renting privately, it is imperative that proper
regulations are in place to ensure their safety.”
