A new report shows how Selective Licensing is working to improve private rented sector housing standards - alongside proposals for a raft of new schemes that could come online in the coming months.
There are currently eight live Selective Licensing schemes across the city – along with four previous schemes that were completed earlier this year or earlier. So far 3,240 properties across the city have been licensed under current and past schemes.
Selective Licensing allows Councils to require landlords of all private rented properties to obtain a licence in a particular area and is intended to address the impact of poor-quality homes and management standards.
Licensing can be introduced if an area is experiencing significant and persistent problems caused by antisocial behaviour, poor property conditions, high levels of migration, high levels of deprivation, high levels of crime, low housing demand – or is likely to become such an area.
Impact of Selective Licensing in our communities – Moss Side/Rusholme, Old Moat and Moston
Selective Licensing schemes in Moss Side and Rusholme ended in January 2023, and schemes in Old Moat and Moston ended in April 2023.
New data evaluation of the programme shows the improvement in property and management standards in those areas, alongside improvements to the wider neighbourhoods.
Across these three licensing areas, 1,515 properties have been granted licenses following which 500 compliance inspections were carried out that ensured these homes were of a good standard and managed correctly.
And following changes to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing in 2018 to include smaller properties, the selective schemes also led to an additional 142 properties being licensed under HMO legislation.
Following intensive compliance inspections, officers found that 10% of the properties visited were non-compliant (I.e. a serious hazard was found using the housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS)) and 65% were found to have lower category hazards.
In total, 54 serious hazards were found – including fire safety issues, excessive cold or fall risks associated with stairs or steps. 1,342 other hazards were identified – including damp and mould, fire safety, and electrical issues.
In these cases, appropriate timescales were agreed with the landlord to complete works or future action would be taken against them.
As a result, 93 housing related enforcement notices were issued by the Council against landlords, mandating improvements to be made at their properties. And 971 enforcement actions were served for environmental issues, such as litter, pest problems and other waste control incidents.
Legal action via Civil Penalty Notice (CPNs) were issued against 15 landlords for either failing to apply for a licence or for non-compliance with enforcement notices served under the Housing Act 2004.
A total of £71,799.00 was handed out through fines – and a further £14,532 was charged to landlords for officer time related to processing Housing Act Enforcement Notices.
Although housing related requests have increased city-wide by 1.2% in the last five years, the positive impact of selective licensing in the Moston and Old Moat Selective Licensing areas is demonstrated by the fact that housing requests have dropped by 9.7% and 27% respectively in those areas – showing the significant progress made to improve the management and quality of the private sector homes in those areas.
The next phase of Selective Licensing
Nine new Selective Licensing areas across six wards have now been proposed and will be subject to local consultation in spring / summer next year following executive approval being sought in the New Year.
These areas have been chosen following a ‘hotspot’ mapping exercise that looked at areas of the city where licensing could make a positive impact on those communities – and where they meet the criteria for a Selective Licensing scheme.
The fourth phase Selective Licensing could include a total of 1,872 PRS homes:
- Whiteway Street area in Harpurhey (129 PRS properties)
- Leng Road / Melrose Street / Droylsden Road– Miles Platting & Newton Heath (269 PRS properties)
- Scotland Street area – Miles Platting & Newton Heath (98 PRS properties)
- Viscount Street area - Moss Side (116 PRS properties)
- Heald Grove area – Moss Side (23 PRS properties)
- Enver Road area – Crumpsall (151 PRS properties)
- Heathcote Road / Sanby Road area – Longsight (192 PRS properties)
- Northmoor Road area – Longsight (471 PRS properties)
- Flats above shops and Esmond Road / Avondale Street area – Cheetham Hill (423 PRS properties)
Find out more about Selective Licensing in Manchester
Find the report that went to Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny on Tuesday 5 December
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:
“We have made a commitment through our Housing Strategy to continue to improve the safety, quality and management standards of private rented sector homes in our city and licensing is proving an effective tool to address property conditions in some of the more challenging areas of our city.
“The results from our previous schemes show that Selective Licensing does improve properties and it does hold landlords to account – requiring them to undertake necessary work in homes to ensure the safety of residents. Even something as simple as getting a new gas or electrical safety certificate means that home is safer than it was before.
“Of course, we know that most landlords are good and work with us very effectively for the benefit of residents. But our message to those that do not is that our officers are working tirelessly to bring you to account, and we will do everything we can to drive up standards in private rented homes and improve Manchester’s communities.”