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Proposals to clamp down on rogue landlords
A tenants’ rights campaign group has spoken out in favour of council proposals to expand tighter rules for rental properties in Bristol.
A pilot for discretionary licencing, already in place in Stapleton Road, will now be rolled out to St George West and Eastville.
The new rules, brought in under the 2004 Housing Act, will require landlords of some privately rented accommodation to pay to licence their properties under certain conditions.
is needed now More than ever
Nick Ballard, from campaign group Acorn, said discretionary licencing has already made “a significant difference” in Stapleton Road.
He added: “This is the first step to getting a register of landlords which will be invaluable to improving standards.”
Eastville and St George West was chosen by the Council because of their poor rented accommodation standards.
Stapleton road and its surrounding streets became a discretionary licensing area in 2013. Licenses dished out by the council last for five years.
Conditions from the licensing act will be passed onto the landlord to ensure that minimum property standards are met. Enforcement action by Bristol City Council will take place if it is not.
Acorn has already made significant inroads into the improving the standards of rental properties since it was founded in 2014.
The group has produced its Ethical Lettings Charter, which it wants the council to adopt. Ballard said: “It is going very well and the council are in favour of it. They’ve been promoting the charter scheme to landlords and applicants.”
The expansion of the discretionary licensing scheme is subject to a public consultation which can be found here.
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