{"id":507634,"date":"2025-10-17T20:09:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T20:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/507634\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T20:09:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T20:09:22","slug":"beeston-hill-holbeck-and-hunslet-landlord-licensing-scheme-extended","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/507634\/","title":{"rendered":"Beeston Hill, Holbeck and Hunslet landlord licensing scheme extended"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

Senior councillors have given the go-ahead to a scheme that aims to drive up the standard of private sector rented housing and deliver improved quality of life for thousands of people in Leeds.<\/p>\n

Proposals for the scheme \u2013 which will use a system known as selective licensing to more closely regulate landlords in a number of deprived local communities \u2013 were originally announced by Leeds City Council last year.<\/p>\n

Following a major public consultation exercise and other detailed preparatory work, a business case for the East, South & West Leeds selective licensing scheme was presented to a meeting of the council\u2019s executive board on Wednesday (15 October 2025).<\/p>\n

Councillors at the meeting voted to endorse the business case and, as a result, new regulatory arrangements will come into effect in February next year.<\/p>\n

All private landlords \u2013 with certain limited exceptions \u2013 will be required by law to obtain a licence for any residential property they are seeking to let in the area covered by the scheme.<\/p>\n

Licence conditions will include ensuring the safe working of gas or electric appliances, providing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and keeping the property in a decent state of repair, both inside and out.<\/p>\n

The scheme will cover around 12,500 privately-rented homes in a single continuous area that takes in parts of the\u00a0 Beeston & Holbeck, Hunslet & Riverside, Armley, Burmantofts & Richmond Hill, Gipton & Harehills and Farnley & Wortley council wards.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Map showing boundary of licensing area in South Leeds<\/p>\n

The green light for the plans follows the positive results achieved by two selective licensing schemes that ran in the Beeston and Harehills areas from 2020 until the start of this year.<\/p>\n

More than 6,700 inspections and other visits were conducted by the council at privately-rented properties in those areas while the schemes were in operation.<\/p>\n

Improvement work was carried out by landlords at around 1,430 homes where issues were identified, leading to better living conditions for an estimated 6,000 people. Around 400 civil penalties were issued to landlords who failed to do what was asked of them.<\/p>\n

The visits also gave council officers increased opportunities to identify situations where tenants were facing non-housing related problems.<\/p>\n

This in turn saw more than 1,900 referrals being made to partner agencies that could support people with health, financial and other challenges.<\/p>\n

The police\u2019s work to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour was also regularly aided by intelligence and information gathered during the inspections.<\/p>\n

Under the terms of the Housing Act 2004, however, selective licensing schemes in England can only run for a period of five years.<\/p>\n

Conscious of that cut-off point \u2013 and the results achieved since 2020 \u2013 the council has for some time been considering the introduction of an expanded scheme that would again operate in Beeston and Harehills but would also cover a wider swathe of the city.<\/p>\n

The business case presented to executive board today confirms that the designated area meets government-set conditions \u2013 relating to deprivation levels and proportion of privately-rented housing \u2013 for the implementation of selective licensing.<\/p>\n

Income received from licensing fees will be ringfenced to cover the cost of running the scheme.<\/p>\n

Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council\u2019s executive member for housing, said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe are determined, as a council, to ensure that everyone in Leeds can enjoy the stability and sense of security that comes with having a safe, warm and well-managed place to live.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo do this, we need to focus on all types of housing \u2013 including private rentals, which account for a fifth of the city\u2019s homes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m delighted, therefore, that the business case for a new and expanded selective licensing scheme has been endorsed by the council\u2019s executive board.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s decision means we can now press ahead with preparations for the introduction of a scheme that we believe will make a huge difference to the standard of privately-rented homes.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the clear link that exists between poor housing and poor health, it\u2019s our hope that this scheme will also have a really positive impact on the general wellbeing of residents in disadvantaged communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Consultation on the council\u2019s plans took place over a 12-week period late last year, with drop-in events, radio and bus advertising, social media activity, targeted e-mails and questionnaires all being used to reach as many people as possible.<\/p>\n

More than 2,000 questionnaires were returned by landlords, residents and stakeholders, with a range of views \u2013 both supportive and critical \u2013 being expressed. As has been the case during consultation on selective licensing schemes approved in other parts of the country, landlords voiced opposition to the plans.<\/p>\n

Following today\u2019s executive board meeting, the council will now take steps \u2013 such as the placing of public notices in local newspapers and contacting consultees direct \u2013 to maximise awareness of the new arrangements ahead of their introduction in February.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the decision Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI welcome the return of the scheme and the benefits this will provide a significant number of my constituents across the ward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith such a significant number of the ward\u2019s poorest residents living in poor quality rented properties, and the huge impact where this has on their health and life outcomes, this scheme is a powerful and important tool to transform the lives of many people.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough most landlords do the right thing, the last scheme found 80% of inspected properties were not legally compliant in some form or another. Some of these breaches were minor, but many put tenants at significant risk of harm.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of the tenants in those properties were already extremely vulnerable and faced a significant power imbalance between them and their landlord when asking for repairs that were already required by law.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe scheme also uncovered a shocking number of cases of modern-day slavery, abuse, and criminal conduct that would have otherwise not been found had the council not had the power to inspect the properties in question.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside) commented:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOur communities are blighted by irresponsible landlordism, and landlord licensing is a reasonable step; there are many good local landlords, who actually agree. I\u2019m glad that some of the local proposals were adopted into the final scheme.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, I still strongly believe that the Council could have designed a smarter and more affordable scheme; and I also think we should have made the case to national government for greater flexibility, to enable us not just to focus on individual homes, but to tackle systemic problems around waste (like flytipping) and crime. This would enable the project to be more truly transformative.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds City Council<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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