Birmingham City Council has been granted permission to introduce a Selective Licensing Scheme for all private rented properties in 25 wards across the city.
Selective Licensing means that landlords are required to have a license before they can rent out their property.
Birmingham City Council’s scheme will target wards where the private rented sector is above 20% of properties and where there are high levels of deprivation and/or crime.
The council describes the scheme as ‘the largest in the UK’ covering between 40,000-50,000 properties.
Cllr Sharon Thompson, cabinet member for Housing and Homelessness for Birmingham City Council, said: ‘The new scheme will help us drive up standards across the private rented sector. It was approved after extensive consultation and 130 new jobs will be created to deliver the scheme.
‘We want to ensure that private properties in our poorest wards are providing fit and proper accommodation and that landlords are adhering to their legal responsibilities. While many already do, the introduction of licence conditions that cover a range issues including waste bins, references and tackling anti-social behaviour will ensure the council is in a position to engage and regulate this sector appropriately.’
Approved by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities under the Housing Act 2004, the scheme will come into force next June and will last five years.
