Two just published documents could, perhaps, point to a way that local authorities could better persuade private rented sector (PRS) landlords that there are benefits to selective licensing schemes.

The first, published this month by researchers at Bristol University on behalf of the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence is titled, straightforwardly, Understanding Landlord Behaviour in the Private Rented Sector in the UK. One of the surprising findings it reveals is that local authority web pages are not, for PRS landlords, go-to destinations for them as sources of information about their rights and obligations as landlords. It turns out that local authorities are only 6th on a list of available sources of information (coming below tradespeople - with, of course, no offence meant to tradespeople). Of the surveyed landlords only 9% used council web pages “often” to seek information or advice on rights and obligations whereas 14% used tradespeople often. 38% never used the council as such a source whereas 33% never used a tradesperson. The reason this seems surprising is that council web pages contain a wealth of information and advice for PRS landlords and, in a rational world, should be in the top 3 sources of information.

What’s more, only 31% of landlords trusted council web pages “a lot”, this time coming 1 place above tradespeople who were only trusted a lot by 11%. But still, as many as 16% didn’t trust council web pages at all. One reason the research gives for this situation is that most local authority web pages are “passive” with a large amount of complex information just sitting there “lying in wait” to be proactively sought out by a landlord whereas a better way for local authorities to improve landlord capability is to proactively communicate with their PRS landlord community, for example, with direct emailed updates on new legislation.

The second just published document (also published this month) is the supporting evidence document underpinning Redbridge Borough Council’s public consultation on a renewal and expansion of its selective licensing scheme. It is, to be sure, an extensive document running to some 84 pages. What is interesting about this particular consultation document is that a) it’s not difficult to get through as the contents page is clickable so there is no endless scrolling to get to the information in a given chapter and b) it has a set of ward by ward case studies compiled from its previous selective licensing scheme with photographs. The photographs provide graphic examples of some of the poor housing conditions which led Redbridge to bring in selective licensing in the first place and make it difficult to argue against why their scheme should be renewed. Each case study highlights the hazards found, offences committed, enforcement carried out and agencies involved alongside council officers (e.g police).

Most selective licensing scheme consultation documents aren’t this user friendly and this one is certainly an example that other local authorities would benefit from following. Taken together these two documents show a way forward in engaging with the highly subjective PRS landlord community. The one shining a light on the behaviour patterns of a disparate and individualistic community and the other providing information in an accessible and very visual, user friendly format.

Looking for up to the minute updates on all selective licensing and PRS news? Follows us on Facebook Twitter LinkedIn