Buy-to-let landlords who own properties in Blackpool are being urged to lobby against plans to introduce a selective licensing scheme in the town.
Blackpool Council has launched a 10 week consultation open until 8th June on proposals to introduce a selective licensing scheme in the central area, which is comprised of the Bloomfield, Brunswick and Talbot wards.
All landlords under the scheme would need to submit a valid application for each property they wish to rent out, with the council proposing a standard licensing fee of £775 per property, with dwellings that the council deems suitable meeting the ‘Blackpool standard’ paying a rate of £542 (30% discount).
But the Fylde Coast Landlords Forum believes that the proposed fee shows that landlords are being used as ‘cash cows’, and that is why the organisation wants to take action to stop the plans getting the go-ahead.
A detailed dossier objecting to the licensing proposal has already been handed to politicians by the organisation, and campaigner Bob Jackson is now calling on all landlords to petition against the plans.
Jackson told the Blackpool Gazette: “The council already has a sufficiency of powers to tackle any unruly accommodation and good landlords are sick of being utilised as a cash cow.”
He added: “The time has now come to stop interference with the private landlords who are essentially efficient SME’s (small and medium sized enterprises) contributing vast amounts already to the treasury in tax.”
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More legalised theft. As said they have enough powers and are more than happy there`s private rental accommodation to put people in when they have a problem. ( watch TV show how to get a council house) They have plenty of powers already and if you want more money in the pot I recommend they look at some of the vast salary`s they pay some of the people at the top. Nice work if you can get it!!
Probably like Gateshead you will be ignored and the council will walk all over you
Agreed Adrian. Blackpool landlords should fight this every step. If the council were that worried about standards they wouldn’t rent out such s*it themselves. Plus they could always say ‘£50 for accredited landlords’ as a minimum sweetener. They’re not supposed to profit from licensing so I hope Blackpool landlords demand a precise breakdown, with evidence, of where every penny of that £775/542 is allocated.
Tony soprano would be proud of this nation wide extaution of money out of landlords it’s a legal protection racket. I’m ashamed of our country at the minute
but surely councils and government are shooting themselves in the foot here, there is an ever increasing army of homeless out there, councils cannot house them, when overheads increase it's always the end user that pays.
it's council action like this that will drive rents through the roof
or private landlords out of the market, then where will the tenants be rehoused
as there is no council housing available
short sighted greed on the part of the local councils
Government and Council can’t lose they batter landlords until the leave then will just blame any fall out on landlords anyway .. when you have the BBC in you’re pocket you can get any message you like out
Oh dear...
1) Councils are really not interest in improving private sector housing. Seriously. After decades of landlord licensing they have no evidence it does squat and they say it's just because they don't have the data. Why didn't they monitor to have the data?
2) Councils aren't really consulting about landlord licensing. It's just an exercise they do before approaching secretary of state for permission. It really doesn't matter what landlords say.
3) Councils argue vehemently that landlord licensing doesn't raise revenue... but they lie! You see in Manchester they raised over £2m per year (for just one area) and had just a small office and staff to cost out. I offered to run that office for £200k but of course they weren't interested!
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