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The government has responded to outrage after it cancelled a successful scheme from Liverpool Council that has been improving the standard of rented homes in the city.

Yesterday we reported the shock news that Conservative Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has rejected Liverpool Council's application to continue the scheme that has been widely regarded as a major success since it was brought in in 2015.

The scheme, which is backed by Merseyside Police and the fire service, means all private landlords must obtain a licence for their rented properties and prove they are "fit and proper."

Licensed landlords’ properties must meet fire, electric and gas safety standards and be in a good state of repair, and the scheme allows the council to deploy a team to carry out regular inspections and bring bring rogue landlords to book.

The local authority said the shock decision will severely hamper attempts to drive up standards in the private rental sector and keep vulnerable tenants safe – particularly in relation to fire safety in rented properties.

Mayor Joe Anderson said the 'ill thought through' the decision to end the scheme will 'put the lives of some of our most vulnerable tenants at risk.'

(Image: PA)

The ECHO asked the Department of Communities and Local Government for a full explanation for its decision.

An MHCLG spokesperson said: “Following careful and detailed consideration, it was decided that Liverpool City Council’s application for selective licensing did not demonstrate robust evidence to support the existence of low housing demand across the whole city.

“Liverpool City Council was one of more than 130 local councils to recently receive a share of £4.3m funding from government to tackle rogue landlords.

“We will continue to support Liverpool City Council and other local authorities in taking effective enforcement action as part of our commitment to securing a better deal for tenants across the country.”

The department said the council's application failed to satisfy the statutory criteria set out in the Housing Act - despite the scheme running successfully since 2015.

The council said it entirely rejects the government's rationale - and is considering legal action over the decision.

They believe the decision will severely hamper attempts to drive up standards in the private rental sector and keep vulnerable tenants safe – particularly in relation to fire safety in rented properties.

(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

Overall, 70% of inspected properties in Liverpool have been found to be in breach of their licence condition since the scheme was launched in 2015, uncovering serious hazards such as fire, electrical safety and excess cold.

The council has carried out over 37,000 compliance actions, issued more than 2,500 legal and fixed penalty notices and prosecuted almost 250 landlords.

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The impact has meant that Liverpool alone has been responsible for 389% of the 460% national rise in prosecutions between 2012 and 2018.

Without the scheme, the council will not have the same powers to gain access to properties to carry out inspections and enforcement, and the capacity to carry out proactive enforcement will be severely diminished.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “This decision is not only ill-thought through and short-sighted, it also puts the lives of some of our most vulnerable tenants at risk.

“This decision flies in the face of the Government’s tough talk on housing standards, particularly around fire safety in rented properties.

“Over the last five years our officers have come across people whose landlords are happy to take their rent while allowing them to live in appalling conditions with unsafe electrics, gas supply and no fire doors to protect them in the event that a blaze breaks out.

“The Landlord Licensing scheme has enabled us to create a team to be able to hit the streets every day and carry out inspections of properties and bring rogue landlords to book. It is not just about raising housing standards – it is about protecting and saving lives.

“This Government has already taken away £436 million of our funding since 2010 and is now weakening our power to improve housing standards for those who are part of generation rent to the bare minimum.

“All of the talk of devolution away from Whitehall rings hollow when we see ministers in London making vital decisions about cities like Liverpool and other areas they never step foot in.”