Jul

Lancashire town to extend selective licensing and raise fees for landlords

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The town of Burnley is set to ask residents and landlords whether it should extend its selective licensing schemes for another five years.

Its schemes in Burnley Wood and Healey Wood, along with the Leyland Road area of the town, are due to end in November but Burnley Council reports that both areas have seen improvements in the last five years.

Housing disrepair complaints have fallen, as well as the number of empty houses, while there’s also been a reduction in ASB and environmental crime and a rise in average house prices.

Fees are set to go up under the new scheme: from £715 for a new application and £640 for each additional property to £750 per new application and £670 for each additional property, with a 30% discount for anyone in the council’s good landlord and agent scheme.

Secretary of State

If it gets the go-ahead, an 11-week public consultation would start on 9th August, although the size of the schemes mean they would need Secretary of State sign off.

The council has been operating selective licensing since October 2008 and says that between 2013 and 2021, 25 landlords representing 41 properties were prosecuted for failing to apply for a licence while it served 20 financial civil penalties totalling £161,500.

In the Burnley Wood/Healey Wood and Leyland Road selective licensing areas, six financial civil penalties totalling £33,000 have been served.

Councillor John Harbour (pictured), executive member for housing, says tenants, landlords and the wider communities have all benefited from the initiative.

He adds: “It’s now time to consider whether selective licensing should continue in these areas and we want to hear from all those affected so we can make an informed decision.”

Read more about Burnley.

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