A crackdown on rogue landlords in part of Liverpool is getting underway.
Around 85 properties on Neston Street, Wilmslow Street, Eton Street and Oxton Street in County are being targeted by the city council’s Landlord Licensing team, who will be checking whether they meet the required standards together with colleagues from Merseyside Police and Mersey Fire and Rescue Service.
It is part of a comprehensive programme of action by the council’s 60 strong team aimed at driving up standards in the private rented sector, which now accounts for more than 30 percent of housing in the city.
Landlord Licensing was launched in Liverpool in 2015 and over 43,500 licences are in force. A further 9,800 unlicensed properties have been reported during the scheme to date.
Of the licensed properties that had compliance checks, 71 percent have been found to be non-compliant at first visit and required intervention, in some cases closed down due to issues such as dangerous electrics and issues with fire doors.
Councillor Lynnie Hinnigan, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet member for housing, said: “This is part of our ongoing action to tackle those landlords who let their tenants live in poor conditions.
Landlord Licensing has, for the first time ever, given us a picture of the private rented sector across the city, and the teeth to take action against the minority of owners that take rent from often vulnerable tenants while housing them in substandard accommodation.
“We know that badly managed properties also have issues related to crime and anti-social behaviour which can make life a misery for the whole community.
“Landlords can now see the benefits of having a licence in dealing with problem tenants, and in over 80 percent of cases where we have raised the issue of anti-social behaviour it has been resolved swiftly.
“There are areas of the city that have seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour as a result of our work, which demonstrates how Landlord Licensing is making a real difference to the lives of communities across Liverpool.”
Since the scheme was launched, the city council has served over 1,700 legal notices, brought 129 successful prosecutions, issued 69 fixed penalties, given out 148 cautions and made 127 formal written warnings. Over 1,400 cases are currently being considered for prosecution.
The action in County follows around a dozen similar enforcement operations across the city over the last two years.
