Conservative-run Barnet Council is finally considering introducing a selective licensing scheme for private landlords in the borough over four and a half years since Labour councillors first proposed it.
A report discussed at last night’s Housing Committee (14 Jan) proposes employing an additional member of staff for up to 23 months to investigate the viability of a selective licensing scheme in order to help improve standards in the private rented sector which is currently unregulated.
The report entitled ‘Private sector housing enforcement proposals’ states that:
“There are also areas of poor housing where tenants are less likely to ask the local authority for help, and proactive enforcement action is required to improve the standards of private tenanted accommodation in these areas.”
The report also details “In the worst cases, the “rogue” landlords purposefully leaving their tenants in poor accommodation for example rooms overcrowded and conversions poorly carried out.”
Labour councillors first proposed private sector landlord licensing in a motion to Full Council in July 2014, but all 31 Conservative councillors present blocked the motion by voting against it, including 7 Conservative councillors who are private sector landlords in the borough and obtained a dispensation to vote in the debate.
More than 26% of Barnet households live in the private rented sector. The Council took action against hazards at 469 tenanted dwellings between 2011-2014.
Deputy Leader of the Barnet Labour Group and spokesperson on Assets, Regeneration & Growth, Cllr Ross Houston said:
“I welcome this decision after years of campaigning by Labour councillors. Labour proposed licensing over four years ago but it was voted against by the Tories. What a missed opportunity. How many rogue landlords could have been dealt with since then? As I said yesterday evening – Labour will continue to press the Tories on this and won’t rest until we see every Barnet private tenant protected by a borough wide licensing scheme.”