WIREDGOV

Landlords with rental properties in the ward of South Wigston, Leicestershire, will have to apply for a licence in order to rent out their property lawfully.

It comes as plans to introduce a selective licensing scheme in the ward were given the go ahead at a recent council cabinet meeting.

The new selective licensing scheme will come into operation on 5th May 2020 and will last for five years. The council say the one of the aims of the scheme is to improve the standard of housing in the area.

Applying for a licence, grace period, and penalties for non-compliance

Oadby & Wigston Council have been accepting licensing applications since 24th February 2020.

There will also be a grace period; after 5th May 2020 the council will allow three months for any applications to the licensing scheme to be made. Once the grace period has finished on 5th August 2020, any property in the designated area found to not have a licence may result in prosecution or a civil penalty of up to £30,000.

Consultation

The council ran a twenty week consultation on the licensing scheme which closed in January this year.

In the association’s response, which you can read here, the RLA was opposed to plans to introduce the licensing scheme. The RLA raised a number of concerns with the proposals including the ‘excessivbley high’ fees and the facts that the council already has existing enforcement powers in order to tackle poor housing standards.

• To read more about this new selective licensing scheme or to apply for a licence, click here.