THERE is just a month to go for landlords with privately rented properties to secure early bird and other discounts on Liverpool City Council's Landlord Licensing scheme.
 
Landlords signing up before the end of June 2022 will benefit from a saving which will take the total cost of a 5 year licence down to £380 per property, rather than £550.

Early adopters can also benefit from a range of other reductions:-

► £50 discount for each property with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C or above.

► £50 discount on all properties licensed by the same licence holder, in the same block of flats.

► £30 discount for each property if the licence holder has an active membership of a housing- elated professional body.

These discounts are extended to landlords who are new to the rental market, or for those who buy a property with a tenant in situ, within 14 days of the completion of purchase.

So far, the Council has received over 8,500 applications. but it is known that more landlords are yet to sign up.

The new scheme, which runs until April 2027, is based on poor property conditions, targeting the 16 wards in the City where at least 1 in 5 homes is owned by a private landlord.

Around 45,000 of the 55,000 properties in the original City wide scheme; which ran from:- 2015 to 2020; are covered, giving the Council additional powers to drive up standards and keep vulnerable tenants safe, such as:- tackling fire and electrical safety hazards, excess cold and damp and preventing and tackling anti social behaviour.

The wards included are:- Central, Riverside, Greenbank, Kensington, Picton, Tuebrook and Stoneycroft, County, Anfield, St Michael's, Princes Park, Kirkdale, Old Swan, Warbreck, Wavertree, Fazakerley and Everton.

There is no charge for landlords offering permanent accommodation to meet homelessness duties, providing the property meets licence standards.

Applications are made online and payment; which covers the 5 years of the scheme; thought in 2 parts:-

► The 1st payment is for the administration needed to process and issue licence applications, including checks to make sure a licence holder is fit and proper. Applicants will also need to attach supporting documents such as a valid gas safety certificate.

► The 2nd payment will be requested once the licence has been deemed suitable to be granted and leads to checks for compliance and the enforcement of licence conditions.

A list of fees and charges is online now and landlords can start the application process now.

Landlord Licensing is separate to HMO (Houses of Multiple Occupation) licensing, which is already mandatory and covers over 2,600 properties. The Council continues to provide a reactive service dealing with complaints and referrals covering all private rental properties.

Cabinet Member for Strategic Development and Housing, Councillor Sarah Doyle, said:- "We've had a very positive response to the launch of the new Landlord Licensing scheme, with many landlords already coming forward. However, we know there are more who haven't yet responded. If they do so in the next few weeks, they will save a considerable amount of money, particularly if they have several properties. Landlord Licensing is now mandatory, meaning it is legally enforceable. If they don't sign up, they risk being taken to court and facing a fine much greater than the cost of a licence. It is really important because too many vulnerable people in our City are in poor housing conditions. The money we raise gives us the ability to enforce standards, taking action when concerns are raised. Under the previous scheme, Council intervention forced bad landlords into taking action to improve their properties, and we want to build on this success."

An evaluation of the 2015-2020 City-wide licensing scheme found:-

► Over 34,000 inspections of licensed properties had been completed, which identified 65% of properties were not fully compliant on the 1st visit.

► Identification of 4,350 cases of the most serious category 1 and 2 hazards including:- disrepair and excess cold affecting the health and wellbeing of residents.

► Issuing of more than 2,500 legal notices, 169 formal cautions and 197 written warnings.

► More than 300 successful landlord offence prosecutions and issuing of 87 civil penalties.

The scheme is pivotal to the success of the Council Plan and the City Plan, both of which aim to ensure residents live in safe, inclusive and welcoming neighbourhoods.
 

WITH Child Safety Week coming up, NICEIC; the UK's leading body for certified electrical contractors; is reminding parents about the importance of having appropriate measures in place to ensure electrical safety in the home for the whole family. Child Safety Week takes place from Monday, 6 June to Sunday, 12 June 2022, with this year's theme designed to make sure busy families have the 'safety in mind' that really matters, especially when under pressure. 'Safety in mind' places a focus on the array of dangers that youngsters face both inside and outside of the home, covering areas such as:- choking hazards, swallowing button batteries, fire safety and walking near busy roads. In support, NICEIC says that there will be a proportion of the nation's families who are unaware of the dangers that can exist around the home; whilst for others, they may be aware but too busy to keep up with simple maintenance and vital periodic checks.

Paul Collins, Head of Technical Services at NICEIC, comments:- "We can all fall victim to having endless to do lists, especially when it comes to the upkeep of one's home. But when it comes to home safety, there are simple checks and measures which we would encourage parents to move up to the very top of their 'must do' list in order to safeguard their children in and around the home. In terms of using electrical equipment safely in the home, it's about taking sensible precautions; for example, keeping electrical cords out of reach, keeping appliances off when not in use and never leaving a child unattended when using a device still connected to the mains. Obviously, water and electrics don't mix; so all drinks should be kept away from anything electrical and children must be dried thoroughly before being exposed to any light switches or nearby devices."

With the digital age coming into its own and children seeking entertainment via tablets, phones and consoles, NICEIC urges parents not to overlook the potential risks around using these types of electrical devices. All of these need to be plugged into an electrical socket at some point or another and it's important to always ensure that the socket or an adapter is not overloaded, as this can increase the risk of a fire in the home.

Paul continues:- "Parents must not forget the hazards outside of the home too. The garden poses particular electrical safety risks thanks to the added potential for water and electricity to mix; especially with children dipping in and out of paddling pools. When using electrical equipment outside, it's important to make sure all electrical appliances are using a residual current device (RCD). An RCD is a safety device that automatically turns off electricity if a fault has been discovered. This will help protect children and all family members against the dangers of electrocution and fire which can be caused by earth faults. Another important tip that may be surprising to parents is to not rely on plug socket covers. Regular sockets, that comply with British safety standards, have a built in protection mechanism already and socket covers will not prevent electric shock if the installation is not safe."

Crucially, NICEIC recommends that any electrical work in the home should be conducted by a qualified, certified professional, such as those listed with the NICEIC, as even the seemingly simplest of jobs can be incredibly dangerous if not installed properly.