LATEST: Plans to increase size of Manchester’s selective licensing scheme given thumbs down by landlords

City wants to include at least another 1,200 properties within its scheme in four new areas, on top of the 2,281 already covered by its existing scheme.

At least another 1,200 private rented properties could be included in in Manchester’s extended selective licensing scheme if councillors give it the go-ahead.

Manchester City Council’s scrutiny committee is being encouraged to approve the scheme in four yet-to-be confirmed additional areas, each covering between 300 and 600 homes.

The current pilot scheme – covering 2,281 properties in Crumpsall, Moss Side, Moston and Old Moat – has been deemed a success; 1,932 applications have been received and 1,540 licenses granted.

It says although only halfway through the five-year pilot, anti-social behaviour, noise and fly tipping are showing “encouraging signs of improvement across most of the pilot areas”.

In the Crumpsall area, rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour has dropped by 64% and anti-social behaviour from neighbours was down by almost a third.

Councillor Suzanne Richards, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, says: “In those areas targeted by Selective Licensing, we often have concerns about the standard and safety of properties. Our four pilots are having a positive impact, not just from a property management point of view, but on a neighbourhood level as well.

“We are now identifying further areas for selective licensing, so that we can build on the positive results of the pilots for private renters in other parts of the city.”

However, the Residential Landlords Association believes the council should use its data to find landlords and target resources to properly enforce the wide range of powers it already has to deal with unsafe and sub-standard rented housing. 

Policy manager John Stewart says: “Extending a licensing scheme in the way Manchester Council is proposing is not the answer. All it does is identify the good landlords who register and then tax them. They do nothing to flush out the criminals who stay under the radar.”  

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