The streets in Moss Side and Rusholme that will be subject to a new selective licensing scheme have now been confirmed.
Selective Licensing is a focused programme that requires landlords or managing agents to licence their properties if they rent a home in a specific area.
The landlord licensing scheme in south Manchester is designed to help improve housing and management standards in the area where there are a lot of private landlords.
Covering an area of around 1,200 private sector homes, the selective licensing scheme will look to improve management standards and conditions of private rented housing and support the reduction of anti-social behaviour.
Following the full public consultation, the full list of streets that will be incorporated into the selective licensing scheme can be found here.
Licensing privately rented properties includes mandatory conditions to ensure good management of private properties, including having an up to date gas and electric safety certificate, safe condition of electrical appliances, fitted smoke detectors in a working condition, providing the tenant with a written tenancy agreement and demanding a reference for prospective tenants.
The city council can also attach specific conditions to improve specific issues.
A landlord must apply for a licence if they rent a property in the licensable area and can be fined for not obtaining a licence. Council officers will then carry out compliance checks to ensure licensed Landlords are fulfilling the requirements of the scheme.
The licensing scheme will come into effect in Moss Side and Rusholme will come into effect this week (from 2 October 2017) and landlords that manage property in the designated area will have three months to apply for a licence.
Landlords are encouraged to apply at their earliest opportunity to take advantage of discounted fees for the first three months following the scheme going live.
This is the second designation following a pilot scheme in Crumpsall last year of 358 properties.
Cllr Garry Bridges, Manchester City Council’s lead member for Selective Licensing, said: “Manchester’s second Selective Licensing designation follows closely from the pilot area in Crumpsall where more than 300 applications have already been received, showing a good level of compliance with the scheme, and investigations are on-going to ensure landlords apply for application for the remaining homes.
“Interestingly, around 30per cent of gas safety certificates are dated within days of the applications date, which shows that these landlords are taking the conditions of the licensing scheme seriously, and the scheme is already having an impact making tenants feel safer.
“We want to continue this success in south Manchester – and our message to bad landlords remains strong: take your responsibility seriously, or clear off.”
