Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Long wait times, made worse during the COVID-19 pandemic, are also a barrier to local...
Conclusion
Long wait times, made worse during the COVID-19 pandemic, are also a barrier to local regulation.33 For example, Liverpool City Council had a city-wide scheme from 2015 to 2020 that was popular locally, which lapsed while the Department was considering the Council’s application to renew the scheme for another five years. Several months later the Department rejected the application. The council subsequently produced a new application for a narrower scheme which eventually the Department approved, but the slowness of the process left the council with no scheme at all for nearly two years.34 33 C&AG’s Report, para 3.14 34 Qq 38–50 12 Regulation of private renting 2 Improving the sector for renters Renters’ right to a safe and secure home
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4: PAC conclusion: Local Authorities are constrained by the Department’s approach to licensing landlords. 4: PAC recommendation: As part of its planned reforms, the Department should assess whether current arrangements for licensing schemes are working, and whether alternative arrangements may be more efficient and effective. 4.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 4.2 Selective licensing schemes when used as part of a wider, well planned, coherent initiative, can be an effective tool for LAs to drive better outcomes for good landlords and tenants. 4.3 LAs currently have powers to introduce selective licensing of privately rented homes to address problems in their area, or any part of them. LAs are required to obtain confirmation from the Secretary of State for any selective licensing scheme which would cover more than 20% of their geographical area or would affect more than 20% of privately rented homes in the local authority area. 4.4 The government considers that this strikes the right balance, by allowing local authorities to use selective licensing effectively without placing undue burdens on landlords where additional licensing schemes are not needed. 4.5 The department has simplified the selective licencing application form and will continue to help local authorities to produce a good quality application to support their introduction of schemes. 4.6 The government will work with local authorities and the Local Government Association to develop a selective licensing best practice sharing support for LAs to learn from each other to achieve the most from their selective licensing schemes. 4.7 The Private Rented Property Portal will provide access to information about privately rented properties and tackle one of the biggest and most time-consuming barriers faced by local councils when enforcing standards: that is, identifying poor quality and non-compliant properties and who owns them.