Licensing of Private Rented Accommodation

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Licensing of Private Rented Accommodation

• Zulfiqar Mulak Head of Private Sector Housing
  020 8496 2214 zulfiqar.mulak_at_walthamforest.gov.uk

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Selective Licensing -Update Since last Landlord
Forum

• Formal Consultation ended 24th January -1,534
  responses 324 from landlords/managing agents,
  1,160 from residents.
• Alternative Proposal received from Waltham
  Landlords and further work done via independent
  company(Mayhew associates)
• Further Benchmarking Done with other Local
  Authorities
• All representations considered and report to
  cabinet in June 2014
• Decision Approved by Councillors at the Cabinet
  meeting on 24th June 2014 Effective from April
  2015
• Decision on Fees determined
• Formal public Notices published in Waltham Forest
  News, Yellow Advertiser , in local Libraries

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Selective Licensing -Next Steps

• Now moving into implementation phase.
• Objective is for applications to be taken from
  January 2015 with Early Bird Discount for 3
  months from Go Live (exact date to be
  confirmed)
• Scheme informed by some basic principles
• As simple as possible - for landlords
• Emphasis on self-certification
• Targeted validation and tough with
  misrepresentation
• Balanced against the information needed to meet
  scheme objectives
• On-line application and payment
• Annual review

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Selective Licensing -Next Steps

• Begin detailed work on exactly how the scheme
  will operate
• Implement the commitments given in the Cabinet
  report
• To design the operation of the scheme we need to
• Determine administrative policies
• Design processes
• Implement the IT system
• Provide information and guidance for landlords
  and tenants
• These details have not yet been determined.
• Continue information to and dialogue with
  Landlords throughout the process

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How will Selective Licensing operate?

• Communication and information campaign to
  encourage applications from Landlords and inform
  Tenants
• Landlord guides and FAQs on making an
  application
• Support for Landlords who want to work with the
  council to improve the quality of life for our
  residents
• Set up a Landlords Focus Group on issues
  affecting the PRS
• Targeted approach for individual properties
  prioritised on unlicensed premises, high ASB,
  disrepair and enviro-crime issues.
• Carry out compliance checks on licensed premises
  and validation checks on information provided on
  applications over a 5 year period

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Questions?
Questions
Please send all correspondence to us
atselective.licensing_at_walthamforest.gov.uk