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Do you live in or let a private rented home in Colne?
Published: Wednesday, 21st September 2016
If you live in or let a private rented home in Colne, Pendle Council wants your views on a proposed scheme which would affect all rented homes in some parts of the town.
By introducing selective licensing landlords would have to be licensed to let private rented houses in the designated areas in Colne.
Pendle Council has identified these areas as having a high number of privately rented homes which are in a poor condition and significant number of empty houses.
Councillor Asjad Mahmood, who oversees housing in Pendle, said: “We’re concerned that low demand for houses will cause conditions to deteriorate further if we don’t do something about it.
“By introducing selective licensing we could tackle these issues, improve living standards and help to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.”
If the scheme is introduced private landlords, or their managing agents, who have houses in the designated areas would need to apply for a licence for each of their properties. They would then be able to let or manage these properties.
All licence holders must be ‘fit and proper’ and licences will have conditions attached to them.
Strict monitoring of the licence conditions would help improve the conditions and management of privately rented properties.
A licence will typically last for a maximum of five years and carry a fee of £770 per property, with the possibility of a reduced fee for early payment.
Conditions of a licence would include:
- having a current annual gas safety certificate
- ensuring all furniture and electrical equipment is safe, and provision of a safety declaration if requested
- ensuring there are working fire alarms
- taking 'reasonable and practicable' steps to prevent or reduce any antisocial behaviour
- carrying our repairs and meeting other legal obligations within a reasonable time
Before Pendle Council adopts this scheme it wants to know what you think.
Initially it’s seeking the views of those likely to be affected by the scheme including tenants, local residents and businesses. You can have your say until 7 November 2016.
For more information or to complete an online survey, go to www.pendle.gov.uk/selectivelicensing
Drop-in sessions are being held at St John's Methodist Church, Albert Road, Colne, BB8 0RY:
- Tuesday 27th September, 6.30pm onwards
- Tuesday 11th October, 2 – 5pm
- Tuesday 25th October, 6.30pm onwards
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