A public consultation has begun today (21 June) that will ask residents their opinion on the proposed expansion of Selective Licensing to four new areas of the city – covering more than 1,400 homes.
This consultation follows a previous engagement process in January this year. However, lockdown and Covid regulations limited the responses received and the Council felt that this did not provide members of the community, property owners and management agents enough opportunity to make an informed decision around the proposed schemes.
Selective Licensing allows Councils to introduce compulsory licences for all private rented landlords in specific areas to improve property and management standards – and it can also help respond to neighbourhood issues such as anti-social behaviour or waste problems.
There are currently four schemes in operation in the city (see notes to editors), which has licensed 1,681 homes in areas of the city where there are high numbers of private rented sector properties.
This has led to 403 homes targeted for follow-up inspections, and 282 properties have seen improvement works carried out as a result, and 15 properties issued with fines for both failing to apply for a licence, breach of licence conditions and failure to comply with Improvement notices, resulting in fines totaling £72,599.
Give us your views, see the benefits, and find out more about how the scheme will work
Members of the public can also visit drop-in consultation events to find out more and ask questions:
Clayton and Openshaw
13th July 2021. 11am to 1.00pm at Clayton Sure Start Centre, 101 North Road, Manchester, M11 4NE
22nd July 2021. 3.00pm to 5.00pm at Clayton Sure Start Centre, 101 North Road, Manchester, M11 4NE
Two areas of Gorton and Abbey Hey
7th July 2021. 11.00am to 1.00pm at Gorton Outdoor pop-up Market, Gorton District Centre on Garratt Way, Gorton, M18 8LD
15th July 2021. 4.00pm to 6.00pm at Gorton Community Centre, 543 Abbey Hey Lane, Abbey Hey, Manchester M18 8PF
24th July 2021. 11.00am until 2.00pm at Vine Street Park – Vine Street/Abbey Hey Lane, Gorton, M18 8SA
31st July 2021. 11.00am to 1.00pm at Gorton Outdoor pop-up Market, Gorton District Centre on Garratt Way, Gorton, M18 8LD
Harpurhey – approx 430 PRS properties
9th July 2021. 9.30am until 11.30am at Harpurhey District Centre, Moston Lane, Manchester, M9 4DD
4th August 2021. 2.00pm to 4.00pm at Harpurhey District Centre, Moston Lane, Manchester, M9 4DD
If you require a paper copy of the questionnaire, need it in another language or format (such as Braille), or simply have a more specific concern or issue, please contact us by email or telephone on 0161 234 5004
The consultation will end on 29 August 2021
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and employment, said: “Selective Licensing has had a real impact in the communities where schemes are already up and running. All of our residents deserve a safe, secure and decent home to live in and it’s programmes such as Selective Licensing that help us make sure the private rented sector provides quality homes for residents – and are managed correctly by landlords.
“But we need input from local people, landlords and management agents to understand whether or not our proposals are right for the local community. For this we need your help, and I would urge as many people as possible to take part in this consultation.
“We will also be looking to expand landlord licensing to other parts of the city in the future – again, following consultation with local people – as part of our commitment to tackle rogue landlords and improve standards in the private rented sector.”
Selective Licensing is already operating in:
– Crumpsall
– Old Moat
– Moston
– Rusholme
The following areas will be considered for Selective Licensing in the future. These areas would be subject to consultation before a scheme was agreed.
- Royals – Longsight (approx 64 PRS properties)
- Laindon Road/ Dickenson Road – Rusholme (approx 37 PRS properties)
- Claremont Rd/Great Western Street – Moss Side (approx 318 PRS properties)
- Heywood Street – Cheetham (approx 248 PRS properties)
- Birch Lane – Rusholme (approx 69 PRS properties)
- Esmond/Avondale – Cheetham (approx 76 PRS properties)
- Flats above shops Cheetham Hill Road – Cheetham (approx 60 PRS properties)
- Matthews Lane – Levenshulme (approx 159 PRS properties)
