BHCC Licensing Consultation

29th June 2017

Brighton and Hove City Council are holding a consultation on private sector housing to see if public opinion agrees with the suggestion of further licensing on rented property in the city. With the aim to improve conditions and increase safety, Martin Reid – Head of Housing Strategy, Property & Investment, has invited residents, landlords and local businesses to get in touch and give their opinion.

The consultation will run until 10th September 2017 with the results taken into consideration when finalizing decisions.

At MTM we recommend all parties involved in the sector to have their say and take part in the consultation. Should you like to chat with a member of our team regarding licensing and how it may affect you please feel free to call us on 01273 645797 or email lettings@mtmproperty.co.uk.

For further information please visit the council’s web page.

The letter from Martin Reid at BHCC includes the following: 

The two proposed schemes are:

Additional Licensing Scheme:
This would cover smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) – that is properties of two or more storeys occupied by three or more people who are not from the same family and who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. The proposed area covers the whole city.

Selective Licensing Scheme:
This would cover non-HMO private rented sector homes in 12 wards of the city where evidence demonstrates a clear link between poor property conditions, anti-social behaviour and private rented properties.

The wards covered in this proposal are:
• Brunswick & Adelaide
• Central Hove
• East Brighton 
• Hanover & Elm Grove
• Hollingdean & Stanmer
• Moulsecoomb & Bevendean
• Preston Park 
• Queens Park 
• Regency
• South Portslade
• St Peter’s & North Laine
• Westbourne

The Lewes Road Additional Licensing Scheme covering five wards ends in November 2017.  If you are a licence holder under this scheme the licence will expire on 4 November but you will not be required to apply for a further licence at this time.  A decision would need to be taken following consultation by Housing & New Homes Committee later this year as to whether to introduce further licensing schemes in the city.  If a new scheme is introduced covering this area you would be required to apply for a new licence at that time.

The City Centre Additional Licensing Scheme covering seven wards is in currently in place until 2020 but it would be superseded by the introduction of a new citywide scheme if agreed by Housing & New Homes Committee later this year.  As part of the introduction of any new scheme the committee would need to consider what transitional arrangements should be put in place for existing city centre licence holders and this would be included as part of any report should a new scheme be recommended following consultation.

For more information please go to www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/prs-licensing-consultation where you will be able to find out more and complete the online consultation questionnaire.  Alternatively, if you have any queries please email PrsLicensingConsultation@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call (01273) 293164.