100 signatures reached
To: Stoke-On-Trent City Council
We urge Stoke-On-Trent City Council to reject Selective Licensing.
Selective licensing is an approach that should be examined only when alternatives have been tried and do not work. We do not believe this is the case. Please explore alternatives to the proposed Selective Licensing in Stoke-On-Trent. We would like the council to adopt a more progressive, cooperative approach and for them to concentrate on collaboration with landlords to make Stoke-On-Trent an even better place to live.
Why is this important?
Selective Licensing is a very costly tool that focuses on administration and form filling; it brings no new powers to the Council but its legacy is clear:
- Whole areas would be immediately labelled as ‘blighted’. The council is sending a message to the market that these areas are less desirable and are troubled with deprivation, low demand, high crime levels, high anti social behaviour and fly tipping.
- Possible rent increases to cover the license cost which is on top of the council having already pushed the costs of rental accommodation up through the removal of the council tax grace period which was needed to allow for repairs and maintenance to be carried out between tenancies.
- Homelessness may increase. The conditions of the license make it very difficult to house any vulnerable and disadvantaged people; those without good references and anyone not in long term stable employment.
- Property prices may fall. Who would want to buy into, live or set up business in such an area? This may lead to empty properties and longer void periods between tenancies, which attract more fly tipping, more crime, which in turn creates more anti social behaviour.
- Whole areas would be immediately labelled as ‘blighted’. The council is sending a message to the market that these areas are less desirable and are troubled with deprivation, low demand, high crime levels, high anti social behaviour and fly tipping.
- Possible rent increases to cover the license cost which is on top of the council having already pushed the costs of rental accommodation up through the removal of the council tax grace period which was needed to allow for repairs and maintenance to be carried out between tenancies.
- Homelessness may increase. The conditions of the license make it very difficult to house any vulnerable and disadvantaged people; those without good references and anyone not in long term stable employment.
- Property prices may fall. Who would want to buy into, live or set up business in such an area? This may lead to empty properties and longer void periods between tenancies, which attract more fly tipping, more crime, which in turn creates more anti social behaviour.
