PRESS RELEASE : Public consultation begins around the expansion of landlord licensing across Manchester [October 2022]

The press release issued by Manchester City Council on 7 October 2022.

The public and landlords are being asked their views on the proposals to expand Selective Licensing to eight new areas in five wards across the city.

There are already seven areas where Selective Licensing is in operation to help improve standards in the city’s large private rented sector to ensure the homes have a positive impact on an area.

The consultation around the new areas is now open and asks for feedback about schemes in the following areas:

• Cheetham – Esmond/Avondale – 87 PRS properties
• Cheetham: Heywood St/Cheetham Hill Rd – 251 PRS properties
• Cheetham: Flats Over Shops: Cheetham Hill Rd – 86 PRS properties
• Levenshulme: Matthews Lane – 170 PRS properties

• Longsight: The Royals – 74 PRS properties
• Moss Side & Whalley Range: Claremont Road / Great Western St – 346 PRS properties
• Rusholme: Birch Lane – 70 PRS properties
• Rusholme: Laindon/Dickenson – 38 PRS properties

The consultation is now open and residents are invited to take part. 

This consultation will close on 14 December.
If agreed, these designations could come into effect in spring 2023.

Selective Licensing allows Councils to introduce compulsory licences for all private rented properties in areas experiencing one or more of the following: significant and persistent problem caused by antisocial behaviour, poor property conditions, high levels of migration, high levels of deprivation, high levels of crime, low housing demand – or is likely to become such an area.

Councils are able to issue civil penalties of up to £30,000 or prosecute a landlord (with an unlimited fine) if they are not complying with the conditions of the licensing scheme. In extreme cases, Councils can also prevent the use of a property or assume control of a property.

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:

“We are seeing the real positive impact of selective licensing in the previously designated areas and it’s satisfying that through our licensing schemes and subsequent investigative work our officers are uncovering serious issues that otherwise would have gone unnoticed. 

“We firmly believe that everyone living in Manchester deserves a decent home to live in and as our private rented sector grows, landlord licensing gives us a way of making sure that our residents can sleep easy knowing their property is safe.

“Of course, we know that the vast majority of landlords do manage their properties to a good standard – but for those that don’t, our message is that it’s unacceptable to take advantage of your tenants and we will do what we can to hold them to account. There is no place for rogue landlords in our city.”

Initial designation of Selective Licensing (2,279 PRS properties –

• Crumpsall – 13th March 2017 to 12th March 2022 (now closed)

• Moss Side – 8th Jan 2018 to 7th Jan 2023
• Moston – 23rd Apr 2018 to 22nd Apr 2023
• Old Moat – 23rd Apr 2018 to 22nd Apr 2023

Second designation of Selective Licensing (from Feb 2022)

• The Ladders – Gorton and Abbey Hey – 690 PRS properties
• Hyde Road – Gorton and Abbey Hey – 95 PRS properties
• Trinity – Harpurhey – 428 PRS properties
• Ben Street area – Clayton and Openshaw – 99 PRS properties