Story: Duncan Geddes & Rohan Francis
The controversial landlord licensing scheme for Fir Vale was approved by Councillors at a Cabinet Meeting in January.
Landlords will now have to apply for a licence to rent out property in the area after the Council introduced Sheffield's first Selective Licensing scheme.
The scheme will force private landlords to provide “minimum housing standards”, with fines for breaching licensing conditions. Details of the scheme were released in a Council report alongside a summary of the public consultation and data to support its introduction.
The original proposals have been scaled down following consultation meetings, which were at times heated. Compulsory Licensing will now be concentrated on about 350 rented properties within Page Hall including those on Page Hall Road, Popple, Robey, Lloyd, Wade, Lauder, Willoughby and Hinde Streets and parts of Hinde House Lane. A voluntary scheme will be rolled out to around 520 rented homes in the wider Fir Vale area.
Landlords will have to ensure their properties are inspected and meet the minimum standards of health and safety. No more than two people per bedroom, including guests, will be allowed in a home under the plans.
Anyone letting property to new tenants will have to obtain 2 references. Landlords will have to ensure the correct use of Council services such as refuse collection and to manage anti-social behaviour occurring in their property.
Breaching the license conditions could result in a fine of up to £5,000. Anyone found to be letting without a licence could face a fine of up to £20,000.
According to the Council's consultation report, three quarters of local landlords, who will have to pay £725 for a five-year licence, opposed the regulations. Some residents also expressed concern about the new overcrowding rules. Ahsan Ashraf, of the Firvale Community Action Team, attended the Cabinet Meeting to express his fears that families could be kicked out of their homes.
“This will lead to evictions in order that the landlord meets the conditions of the licence. Tenants won’t be able to invite an elderly relative – a grandmother, an aunt, a grandfather – over for Christmas. That is now ‘overcrowding'. The policy may have a negative impact on new migrants from the EU and could result in increased homelessness. If this policy was in force when we were growing up, my family would be made homeless as my parents lived with four children in a 2 bedroom house.”
Ahsan spoke in detail about the potential impact of Selective Licensing on local people. His speech can be found on the Burngreave Messenger website.
The Council report into Selective Licensing suggests it will help landlords to integrate new migrant families into the community and reduce Fir Vale's high level of housing poverty. They defended fears that the scheme would cause an increase in homelessness by insisting action would be moderate.
Michelle Slater, co-author of the report, said, “What we would never do is go to a landlord and say ‘you need to evict your tenants’.” However, she added that the Council was, “looking at buying empty properties in the area to help rehouse tenants”.
The Council's report gave significant focus to the area's migration issues, but Councillors were keen to point out that the scheme was aimed at managing landlords, who are being asked to do their part, by taking greater responsibility in managing their tenancies.
Councillor Harry Harpham told the Messenger, “I strongly believe that landlords have a responsibility to the wider community in which they operate. It is simply not right that they knock on their tenants' door, collect the rent money and walk away without a second thought about the impact of their business.”
He emphasised the importance of landlords signing up for the voluntary scheme.
“We need landlords to respond to a voluntary scheme in the wider area. If they don’t, then we will look at bringing in Selective Licensing in the whole area.”
However, concerned residents like Ahsan, believe the added pressure may mean landlords simply avoid letting homes to new families. Ahsan said:
“Landlords will evict them rather than take the risk. Why would you risk a fine of £5,000? It’s going to cleanse the area of communities of people. And as for those houses, who’s going to still want to live in there?”
Selective Licensing comes into force on 22 April 2014. For more information contact Private Housing Standards on 0114 273 4680 or email: selectivelicensing@sheffield.gov.uk