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Talks to begin
on landlord licensing
LIVERPOOL is driving
forward with plans to become the first City in the country to
introduce a Citywide licensing scheme for private landlords - in a
bid to drive up the quality of private rented properties.
The Mayoral Cabinet will be asked to approve plans, on Friday 22
November, for a 12-week independent consultation to begin over the
introduction of the scheme.
It would mean all property owners who rent out their properties
would need to apply for a licence, agreeing to comply with a minimum
set of standards. A breach of the conditions could lead to a fine,
or even the revocation of the licence.
There are around 50,000 rented properties in Liverpool and the
sector is vital in meeting City's housing needs. The plans aim to
support the City's pledge to work with the majority of responsible
landlords, support them and create a level playing field for all,
while cracking down on landlords who do not manage their properties
properly.
The licensing scheme would also help empower tenants - who currently
have no way of knowing the quality of their prospective landlord -
and help them make informed choices. And it would protect residents
who have suffered from neighbouring properties being bought by
landlords who have then let them indiscriminately to unsuitable
tenants.
Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Ann
O'Byrne, said:- "It's vital that we do all we can to work with
landlords across Liverpool to drive up the quality of our private
rented properties. Poorly managed properties lead to problems such
as low demand, anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping, and are a real
blight on our neighbourhoods.
We are already carrying out a range of work to tackle this issue,
and the licensing scheme would be another major step forward,
setting out our commitment to build on our positive relationships
with good landlords, while making it clear that we will not tolerate
unsatisfactory property conditions and poor standards of management.
We want to make sure Liverpool has a good quality private rented
sector, which tenants can be confident in, and we believe this
licensing scheme can play a major part in helping us achieve that.
We will be consulting fully with landlords, tenants, residents and
other stakeholders over the coming months, to make sure their views
are fully taken on-board."
Proposals for the licensing scheme were first put forward at the end
of last year, and since then, the City Council has been collating an
extensive range of evidence from a range of internal and external
sources to produce a comprehensive business case, ahead of launching
the consultation.
Groups to be consulted would include landlords and landlord
associations; residents and residents associations; private tenants;
advice agencies; Registered Housing Providers; and ward members.
The extensive and fully inclusive consultation process would set out
the scope and purpose of the proposal and give people the
opportunity to leave comments and feedback. It would use various
methods of communication to publicise the proposal including
questionnaires for residents, tenants, landlords and businesses, and
a series of drop in events at local libraries and other community
venues.
Consultation on the plans would begin early in the new year.
Following the consultation, a further report would be presented to
the City Council's Cabinet, and if given the go-ahead, the licensing
scheme would come in later in 2014/15.
The licensing scheme for private rented properties would build on
the City's compulsory licensing scheme for the City's 1,250 Houses
in Multiple Occupation (HMO), which has driven an improvement in
standards and property management.
It sees landlords pay a license fee to cover operating costs, and a
licensed HMO must be reasonably suitable for occupation, have a
license holder of manager who is a fit and proper person, have
satisfactory management arrangements and comply with set standards
and licence conditions.
A fine of £20,000 can be imposed for controlling or managing an
unlicensed HMO. A breach of licence conditions can carry a fine of
up to £5,000 and licences can be revoked where there is a serious
breach of licence conditions.
RE-APPEAL ABOUT CRAIG MICHAEL ABBOTT
- SEFTON, LIVERPOOL, WEST LANCASHIRE - WANTED BY POLICE
MERSEYSIDE Police are
appealing for the public's help in tracing a Bootle man with links
to Lancashire who is wanted for failing to appear at Court.
Craig Michael Abbott was due at Liverpool Crown Court charged with
burgling a house in Childwall in South Liverpool and stealing an
Audi A3 from outside. A warrant for the 30 year old's arrest was
issued by the judge in the case on 1 January 2013, but despite
extensive enquiries by the Police, he is yet to be found.
Abbott is described as white, around 6ft tall, of slim build with
ginger, shaved, reseeding hair and freckles. He is originally
from Peel Road in Bootle but officers believe he has family Anfield
and South Liverpool as well as Bootle. He also has links to West
Lancashire. Anyone who has seen Abbott, who also goes under
the name of Donald Metcalf, or knows where he is should call Marsh
Lane Police station on:- 0151 777 3051 or call the charity
Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111. |
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PUTTING THE
BRAKES ON DANGEROUS DRIVING
MERSEYSIDE Police have been
running a number of different activities across the region as part
of
Brake's 'Road Safety
Safety
Week' campaign, that ran
over 17 November to 23 November 2013. The week's activities were
aimed at getting drivers across the North West to tune into road
safety and prevent crashes caused by multitasking at the wheel.
Officers from Merseyside Police, working with local authorities and
Mersey Fire and Rescue Service across the county, carried out a
number of activities over the course of the week, which focussed on
both education and enforcement.
Sergeant Paul Mountford said:- "This week we have been working
with partners in Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral to reduce the number
of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. Activities have
included roadside education in and around the City; where we stopped
drivers to remind them of 'The 20 Effect', promoting 20 mph speed
areas in Liverpool. We also carried out a 'Kids Court' in Sefton;
where drivers caught driving in excess of the speed limit near to
schools are invited to be interview by the children about their
driving. Reducing serious road traffic collision and the heartache
they cause to victim's families is an absolute priority for
Merseyside Police."
A full breakdown of activities is below:-
A 'Roadside education' took place in Canning Street,
Liverpool, which is now subject to a 20 mph speed limit. Over the
course of the morning 15 drivers were invited to receive advice on
"The 20 Effect". Officers used a brake reaction tester
to highlight the benefits of driving at a slower speed and drivers
watched a video prepared by a local school. All drivers were driving
at 30 to 33 mph and numerous more were given leaflets at the
roadside.
A 'Kids Court' took place at St Luke's School in Formby.
Officers summoned 10 drivers to sit in front of a panel of children
to be questioned about their speeding near to the school. Officers
also attended at St Oswald's Primary School to conduct road safety
talks.
Throughout the week; officers also spoke with various local
businesses to give information to employees about the dangers of
drink driving. Police even attended at a coffee morning on
Woodchurch, on the Wirral, to speak to older road users.
Also Officers carried out an enforcement day of action, which
resulted in 59 drivers stopped for speeding and a total of 118
drivers stopped for a variety of other offences. For
more information about how to dive safer click
here now.
Campaign to cut risk from 'silent killer'
A campain has started to
alert Liverpool residents about the dangers of a 'silent
killer';
carbon monoxide poisoning. They are being advised of the
importance of having annual gas safety checks by registered
engineers.
The City's Healthy Homes team has identified this issue as a
priority after identifying and responding to 77 cases of potential
carbon monoxide poisoning in the City in recent years. And
figures for the UK show that between 1995 and 2011 622 deaths were
caused by CO poisoning. There were also 4148 incidents of non-fatal
CO poisoning, 2188 of which required hospital treatment. It is also
recognised that many cases are unreported and that these figures are
likely to be higher.
Councillor Ann O'Byrne, cabinet member for housing, said:-
"These are shocking figures. They show the importance of people
being aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and having
their gas appliances properly checked every year. We are
determined to cut the number of incidents in Liverpool and make our
houses safe from this silent killer."
Information about the dangers of carbon monoxide is being advertised
and thermometers with awareness information are being distributed at
community health events and the Winter Survival Road shows.
Carbon monoxide can be produced in any fuel-burning appliance that
is not properly fitted or maintained. This can include cookers,
heaters, gas tumble dryers, hot water heaters and fireplaces.
Danger signs include yellow or orange flames where there should
normally be blue ones and sooty stains on walls around fires and
water heaters.
Anyone can be poisoned by carbon monoxide however children, the
elderly, people with anaemia and those with heart or lung diseases
are at particular risk, Pregnant women risk damage to their unborn
child from carbon monoxide.
It is essential to have boilers and fossil fuel burning appliances
regularly serviced by a registered engineer at least once a year.
Flues should be checked to make sure they're not blocked.
Every home should have a British Standards Kite-marked audible CO
alarm. However, installation of an alarm should not replace regular
inspections and servicing of appliances and boilers by a registered
engineer.
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