‘Driving efficiency’ - a phrase that’s been situated at the forefront of local authority service provision efforts for some time, but ongoing external constraints have meant that this drive often involves having to react to a constantly moving feast where demand always outstrips supply and resource priorities must be tightly focussed.

Whilst upcoming government plans to reconfigure the local authority landscape are still in the pipeline however, local authorities continue the trend toward innovative proactivity in adapting to the ever-changing ecosystem that they must operate within.

This trend certainly applies to the licensing of privately rented properties where, historically, the ‘process’ was largely paper-based both in terms of initial licence applications and also in the carrying out of property compliance inspections and the production of resulting inspection reports by EHOs. Obviously an administration, and thus also a cost-intensive process.

Though within living memory, that sort of paper-based methodology is now, effectively, “ancient history” especially given the move, originating with central government, to ‘digital by default’ ways of working. However, it is notable that local authorities sometimes still employ licence application processes that are, in reality, a digital analogue of the old paper process. For example, an application might be made by filling in a template form which is provided online but which the applicant then needs to save before then emailing the completed form to the relevant council team.

In another example, the licence application form can be completed and submitted completely online but, crucially, there is no interactivity. Thus, once completed and submitted, extra council administrative resources must be expended dealing with, chasing up and then correcting inaccuracies in or omissions of information on the submitted form.

A smarter approach to licensing

Home Safe, on the other hand, streamlines property licensing for local authorities, reducing administrative burdens and ensuring compliance through an intuitive digital platform.

An interactive licence application platform

Our online system benefits both local authorities and landlords by guiding applicants through the process in real-time. Invalid or incomplete applications are flagged immediately, allowing landlords to correct errors via their dashboard before submission. This ensures that only compliant applications progress.

Property certificate management

Throughout the five-year licensing term, property certificates are managed digitally, with council officers having real-time oversight via a dedicated dashboard. This allows for efficient processing, licence issuance, and compliance tracking—freeing officers to focus on enforcement and reporting rather than more basic administrative tasks.

Proactive compliance monitoring

By automating compliance tracking, Home Safe enables councils to identify non-compliant landlords swiftly and build evidence for enforcement where necessary. Instead of manually chasing missing documents, officers can prioritise genuine cases that require intervention, ensuring resources are directed where they have the greatest impact.