How the partnership working model can deliver better outcomes for Selective Licensing schemes

A cluster of red-brick semi-detached houses with grey slate roofs, chimneys, and small gardens, typical of a UK suburban neighborhood.

We've written before about the effective delivery of property licensing schemes but what benefits, beyond the priorities of planning, resource protection and beneficial community outcomes from improved living conditions, can we see from the partnership working model?

Addressing Common Challenges in Licensing Schemes

There have been a number of cases before the property tribunal in recent years where the landlord has sought to use the defence of “reasonable excuse” to argue that the imposition of a fine by a council should either be overturned or its amount reduced. Sometimes this was because they were unaware of a licensing scheme or were unaware that their property was required to be licensed. In those scenarios, the tribunal has made clear that it is a responsibility of a landlord, as part and parcel of the nature of their business as a landlord, to keep themselves informed and not the responsibility of the local authority to keep an individual landlord informed.

In other cases the landlord had not reacted to letters sent by the council because that landlord had moved house and not updated the authority with their new address. Nor had they updated their entry on the Land Registry.

Local authorities themselves provide a wealth of information for private landlords via their webpages, especially throughout the process of setting up licensing schemes, but many landlords don’t take the time to access those pages until a quite late stage in that process, if ever. Indeed, a 2022 research paper (Understanding Landlord Behaviour in the Private Rented Sector in the UK) from Bristol University found that 38% of landlords never used a local authority as a source of information on their rights and obligations as landlords. Many landlords in fact seemed to trust the tradespeople they used as sources of information rather than the local authority - with local authorities coming in at 6th on a list of trusted sources of information.

How Partnerships Can Transform Communication and Compliance

The partnership working model directly addresses these challenges in a number of ways. Here’s how:

1. Communication with landlords

Instead of relying solely on landlords to seek out information, partners, like Home Safe, enable a proactive flow of communication through tools such as online portals. Landlords are given direct access to the information they need, when they need it. This helps ensure landlords are better informed about their responsibilities.

2. Compliance management

A dedicated portal allows landlords to log in, update their details, and maintain accurate property records. This reduces administrative burdens on councils while ensuring landlords remain compliant. For example, landlords who update their profiles and records on the portal help prevent missed communications caused by outdated contact details.

3. Cost-effective solutions

Home Safe provides an online application form and portal, eliminating the need for local authorities to invest in expensive software or additional IT resources. This saves both time and money while ensuring there are modern, efficient solutions to compliance challenges.

4. Inspection management

One of the greatest benefits of the partnership delivery approach is the ability to improve how inspections and compliance issues are managed. Home Safe works directly with landlords to address issues or hazards identified during inspections. This proactive approach minimises escalations to the local authority, ensuring only the most serious or unresolved cases require council intervention.

Helping to Deliver Better Outcomes

The partnership approach doesn’t just solve operational challenges; it improves outcomes for tenants, local authorities, landlords, and the wider community. Proactive communication and improved inspection management reduce enforcement actions, freeing up council resources for other priorities. At the same time, landlords are better supported, leading to safer, higher-quality housing for tenants.

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