Landlords in Wirral might not welcome yet another selective licensing scheme in the borough, but a reduced £230 fee would make it one of the cheapest in the country.
Councillors are set to decide later this month whether to give the go-ahead to another designation covering Birkenhead Central, Egremont South, Hamilton Square B, Lower Tranmere, Tranmere Lairds and Tranmere North. Unless serious concerns are raised, the new scheme will go ahead.
The council says that although many landlords operate professionally, it remains concerned about a number who rent properties that fail to meet satisfactory standards.
A recent consultation found that the majority (79%) of respondents either strongly agreed or agreed with proposals, however, 74% of landlords opposed the scheme.
"74% of landlords opposed the scheme"
Landlords would be charged a £605 fee for the five years, but it is proposed this would be reduced to £230 if they license their properties in the first three months of the scheme, accredit their property with a national landlord body, and consider energy efficiency improvements to their properties.
Those larger landlords with higher costs would also be eligible for a small multiple property discount.
Wirral introduced its first selective licensing scheme in 2015 in four areas and schemes currently operate in 10 different areas. The council reports that between 2020-2024, 1,521 private rented properties were licenced, while 1,018 properties have been inspected to date, with 182 of these requiring informal action to improve property standards and 50 requiring formal action.
Last year, two of its selective licencing schemes were renewed in Bidstone & St James West and Birkenhead West, with a further two schemes launched in Egremont North and Secombe St Paul’s.
If agreed at a meeting of the economy, regeneration and housing committee on 17th June, the proposed scheme will launch on 1st October.
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