Sheffield landlords are currently waiting for the results of a public consultation on a proposed selective landlord licensing scheme in the Page Hall area of the city. In line with many other councils across the UK, Sheffield City Council wants to force landlords with properties in Page Hall to apply for special licenses. The council say the introduction of such a scheme will help to protect vulnerable tenants, but landlords do not agree.
Clamping Down on Rogue Landlords
Landlords will be charged up to £750 for each property they let and the license will last for five years. Any landlords operating rental properties in the area who do not have the correct license face fines of up to £20k. In order to apply for a license, the landlord will have to prove he or she is a “fit and proper” person, which in theory should weed out those with previous criminal convictions. Landlords would also have to prove they have provided easy to understand tenancy agreements for their properties, plus gas safety certificates are in place.
Landlord Criticism of the Sheffield Licensing Scheme
Many landlords operating in the area are of the opinion that Sheffield City Council is introducing the scheme purely as a moneymaking enterprise. They say that a voluntary licensing scheme would be much better. If landlords are expected to pay out up to £750 for a rental property, rents will rise to take this extra expense into account, which will of course impact tenants who are already struggling to make ends meet.
