Selective Licensing in Luton
Selective licensing is those sets of rules that are applied to enhance housing conditions and make private rental properties safe for tenants. Moreover, this Housing Act was introduced in 2004 and empowers the local councils to have such powers to make licensing for landlords significant for certain areas. The Borough Council of Luton also implemented this license in its region in order to address such issues so that private landlords would maintain the properties at the highest level. Well, in this article on selective licensing in Luton by AF-Residential, we are going to discuss selective licensing, how it works, and where it is applicable.
Also read this: Pros and cons of being a landlord
Why was selective licensing introduced in Luton?
Selective licensing is introduced to eradicate many problems in the private rented sector. The borough has cases in rental properties where tenants faced the difficulty of having the well-built house. Here is the list of the common issues that are faced by the Luton tenants.
- Poor property conditions
This has shown that a great number of privately rented residents were struggling with poor conditions of houses, such as a lack of smoke alarms or heating systems.
- High rates of antisocial behavior
In some communities, there is no connection between the people who are living there, and this creates a negative impact on the residents.
- Increasing crime rates
Selective licensing has also been introduced because of the absence of rules and regulations. In private rented properties, landlords often reduce their duties, which indirectly becomes a factor in increasing the crime rate.
- Housing demand issues
In the region where the housing demand is less. Landlords do not care much about these houses, and this makes the property poorer.
Thus, all these factors become the reason behind the introduction of the selective licensing scheme, which ensures that the rental sector is more regulated, safe, and maintained.
Also read this: Housing market in Luton
Areas Covered by Selective Licensing in Luton
Selective licensing in Luton is not only a borough-wide policy. It is also applied in certain parts where the implementation of rules is necessary. According to the Luton Borough Council, here is the list of areas that are included in the scheme:
- Luton Town Centre
This area has high rentals and is also rich in a diverse population, which makes the town more questionable for safety concerns.
- Park Town
Park Town has a high number of rentals where the problem of property maintenance and control of antisocial behavior is highlighted mostly.
Also Read this: Block Management in Luton
Who Needs to Have a License?
All those landlords who rent out property in certain areas where the selective license is compulsory should need to apply for it. In this category all the large- or small-scale rental houses are involved, such as single-family homes, flats, and so on.
But here are some exceptions where there is no need for selective licensing:
- Council-owned properties
The properties owned by the local authority or any housing associations are not required to be licensed.
- Holiday lets
The holidays are based on rentals such as Airbnb. Those landlords who rent property for a short period of time. These do not come under the selective licensing.
- Properties addressed by HMO licensing
Well, in some cases when property is under the HMO, there is no requirement of any license separately. Furthermore, landlords have to check out whether they are within the selective licensing areas and make sure that they comply with the process of applying. To understand this, the landlord needs to check whether his property is under selective licensing or not. For this visit the official website of Luton.
Get the AF-Residential Services of Selective Licensing in Luton
AF-Residential is offering the services of submitting the application of selective licensing. We will handle the documentation process and give the ease to the landlord for not worrying about the certificate. Moreover, you will get expert advice if you face any difficulties getting the licence. Our assistance is just one call away, Choose easier for yourself with AF-Residential!
How to Apply for a Selective License in Luton
Getting a selective license in Luton is not that difficult. There is proper information on the official website of the Luton Borough Council, which makes this process easier for the landlords. Also, here are the step-by-step guidelines about how to apply for selective licensing:
1. Visit the Luton Borough Council website, read the information, and download the necessary forms.
2. Then, fill out the online application and give all the details about your house as well as personal details.
3. For application submission, the landlord needs some basic documents such as
- Gas Safety Certificate, which enables the gas appliances to be safe.
- • An Electrical Installation Condition Report is used to make sure that the electrical systems are safe.
- Tenancy agreements and tenancy proof agreements.
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which indicates the energy efficiency rating of the property.
4. Additionally, this license is not issued free; the landlord needs to pay the fee for getting the certificate, and this fee varies from region to region. But normally it ranges between £400 and £900.
5. When the landlord submits the application to the council. They will check it out and grant the selective license, and the license validation is a maximum of 5 years.
What Happens If You Don't Apply for a License?
Rather, heavy penalties may be involved for landlords who neglect to make an application for a selective license when required. These penalties include:
- Penalties of up to £30,000 in case of non-compliance.
- The threat of criminal prosecution depends on the magnitude of the offense.
- Rent Repayment Orders are whereby the tenants may seek compensation of a maximum of 12 months' rent from the landlord.
- Banning orders that will prevent landlords from renting out their premises in the future.
- Also, landlords who do not get a license can lose the right to issue Section 21 eviction notices, which makes it far more difficult to regain possession of a property in case there are problems with tenants.
Benefits of Selective Licensing
The selective license is compulsory for some regions, but it also has some benefits for both landlords and tenants:
For Tenants
This scheme offers well-built homes and completes the minimum standards of safety and strength and minimizes the risk of any unsafe condition.
For Landlords
By licensing, landlords can avoid the regular compliance from the tenants, and this makes the property attractive to the tenants, and the landlord has a high chance of getting a good tenant.
For the Community
This license will also be helpful for the community because the house-related problems will be solved, which will also have a positive impact on the neighborhood. The crime rate and antisocial behavior rates will be minimized, which will help establish a healthy community.
Conclusion
To wrap up, the selective licensing scheme by Luton Borough Council brings peace of mind for tenants and landlords. This license enforces rules and regulations to maintain the primary safety of the property. Moreover, AF-Residential is offering the services of a selective licensing in which we submit the details and organize the documents that are needed. Visit AF- Residential Selective Licensing page for more information!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is meant by selective licensing?
The selective licensing is the certificate that landlords need to rent out their private properties in some areas. The main objective of this is to improve the housing standards and management.
2. Which areas in Luton are affected most?
Town Centre and Park Town are highly populated areas of Luton. Where large numbers of houses are rented out under the Luton Borough Council.
3. Who needs to apply for the license?
Any landlord who owns a property in specific areas such as Town Center and Park Town and privately manages it needs to apply for this license.
4. Are there any exceptions that come under this scheme?
Yes, those properties that are handled by HMO companies or rented for a short period of time, such as Airbnb, do not need any selective licensing.
5. How can I apply for a license?
The landlord needs to submit the application to Luton Borough Council. You can download the form from their website and attach all the necessary documents to it.