Blackpool Council is encouraging private tenants to ask whether their home is properly licensed – a year after launching its selective licensing scheme covering the town’s inner area.
The council says more than half of the estimated 9,000 rental properties in the scheme have now registered, with 30% meeting its enhanced Blackpool Standard for property management. However, it warns that many landlords remain outside the system.
Compliance rates and discount uptake
Of the properties already licensed, 56% qualified for discounted rates by holding an EPC rating of C or above – a notable proportion given the typically older housing stock in seaside towns.
A council spokesperson said: “There are still many people living in poor housing. Tenants can ask their landlords if their home has been licensed, and if it meets the higher Blackpool Standard.”
The Blackpool Standard requires landlords to demonstrate compliance with conditions around property management, tenancy management, fire safety and preventing anti-social behaviour – going beyond the basic licensing requirements.
This follows Residential Landlord’s coverage of new licensing schemes launching across England, as councils use their powers to regulate the private rented sector more actively ahead of the Renters Rights Act.
Enforcement warnings
The council has signalled that landlords who fail to register face prosecution. With approximately 4,500 properties still unregistered, enforcement action could affect a significant number of landlords in the area.
The spokesperson added: “We’ve seen previous schemes drive down anti-social behaviour in neighbourhoods, showing the real value of these approaches.”
Landlords operating without a licence in a designated area face penalties of up to £30,000 per offence, and tenants can apply for rent repayment orders covering up to 12 months of rent.
The move to recruit tenants as informal compliance monitors represents an escalation of enforcement tactics. Similar approaches have been used in London boroughs, where councils publish landlord registers that tenants can check before or during their tenancy.
Industry reaction
Landlord groups have previously expressed concern about Blackpool’s licensing fees, with the NRLA warning that costs could push some property owners to exit the market – reducing supply in an area already facing housing pressure.
The council charges £649 for a five-year licence under the basic scheme, with discounts available for early applications and properties meeting higher standards. Those who apply late or fail to meet conditions face higher fees.
Opinion
The strategy of turning tenants into compliance monitors is increasingly common – and creates an uncomfortable dynamic between landlords and those they house. While licensing schemes aim to raise standards, the emphasis on reporting unlicensed properties rather than addressing condition problems reveals the real priority: revenue collection. Landlords in scheme areas should ensure their paperwork is in order, regardless of whether they believe licensing delivers value.
