LATEST: Manchester reveals more details of its selective licensing expansion

Manchester aims to double the size of its selective licensing scheme by adding another 1,884 properties in eight areas.

The council has given it the go-ahead to the proposals revealed last year and will now launch a consultation into licensing all private homes in Moss Side: Claremont Road/Great Western St, Levenshulme: Matthews Lane, Longsight: The Royals, Cheetham – Esmond/Avondale, Cheetham: Heywood St/Cheetham Hill Road, Rusholme: Birch Lane, Rusholme: Laindon/Dickenson and Cheetham: flats over shops: Cheetham Hill Road.

It points to the success of its first scheme in Crumpsall which recently ended, where 372 properties were licensed and landlords were fined £36,000 for housing offences.

During inspections, 18% of properties were found to have serious hazards, it served 20 improvement notices, two prohibition notices and two suspended prohibition notices.

Spring 2023 start

There are currently seven live selective licensing areas in the city. If the new areas are approved, landlords there would have to pay for a licence in spring 2023. 

Councillor Gavin White (pictured), executive member for housing and development, says there’s clear evidence from the first scheme in Crumpsall that serious issues have been found.

He adds: “There is no place for rogue landlords in our city – we want those landlords to know that this is unacceptable and we will do everything in our power to bring them to account. These eight new schemes across the city will help us to achieve that.” 

Selective licensing currently covers Moss Side, Moston, Old Moat, The Ladders – Gorton and Abbey Hey, Hyde Road – Gorton and Abbey Hey, Trinity, and Ben Street area – Clayton and Openshaw.