Landlords revolt

DISGRUNTLED landlords hope to persuade Oldham Council to reconsider an “unfair” new licence fee.

Private landlords with properties in “problem areas” must now pay £490 per property for a five-year licence. Failure to get one could mean a £5,000 fine.

The council insists the scheme helps to improve property management and tenant behaviour. The programme, which affects 2,250 properties, was introduced in St Mary’s in April, and Hathershaw and Waterhead last month, and will cover Hollinwood and Primrose Bank from September 1, then Coldhurst, Oldham Edge and Alexandra from January 1.

Zahoor Ahmed (50), from Ashton, has several properties in Oldham and believes landlords’ interests are not being protected. He says he has a petition signed by 150 landlords which he will present to the council.

He said: “Last year I was letting out a property and the tenant left without paying six months rent. Why aren’t they protecting landlords? This is unfair on a lot of people.”

Garden Suburb businessman Shahzad Dar (42), who has four homes in Hathershaw, believes a better idea would be to spread the payments: “We’re renting properties out for £400 a month, and that’s if we get paid regularly. Sometimes tenants don’t pay their rent on time. Maybe we’d be happy to pay the licensing fee if it protected our benefits.”

A council spokesman said: “Many rented properties fail to meet the required standards, which can have a terrible impact on tenants. This scheme aims to ensure private landlords meet satisfactory standards. Landlords need to show basic safety checks have been carried out and they have appropriate management arrangements. All the money that comes in is put straight back into the scheme.”

Councillor Dave Hibbert, cabinet member for housing, said: “The vast majority of private landlords who rent out properties in the borough operate within the law, but there are some who fail to provide housing of a decent standard.

“A scheme of this nature will send out a message to rogue landlords that if you want to rent out a property in Oldham it has to be of a good standard.”

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