The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health says councils should be allowed to levy longer landlord licensing schemes – and charge landlords for entry to a mandatory database.
Dr Henry Dawson, a member of the CIEH Housing Advisory Panel and an academic, was giving oral evidence to MPs on the Renters’ Rights Public Bill Committee.
He claimed the Bill would put pressure on local government officers and suggested that fees for schemes such as the mandatory landlord database could provide funding for this enforcement.
He also suggested the removal of any barrier to the introduction of licensing schemes by councils, and increasing the maximum duration of licensing schemes from five to 10 years, and removing the requirement for local authorities establishing selective licensing schemes to ensure that the private rented sector forms a high proportion of properties in the area.
He also called for more taxpayers money on councils for the recruitment, training and retention of new environmental health professionals.
Mark Elliott, President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, says: “The Bill is a step in the right direction but needs to be accompanied by better resourcing for local authority housing enforcement teams and the removal of unnecessary barriers to licensing.
“We will continue to make the voice of the profession heard on these issues during the passage of the Bill through parliament.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today