Selective Licensing consultation - Knowsley Council

Written Responses from Key Partners / Stakeholder and Associations
Merseyside Police
‘…..I have been the Neighbourhood Police Inspector in the area for 5 years. We had
2 successful operations, in 2008 targeting Organised Crime Groups and Criminals in
the area which imprisoned a number of high profile criminals (involved in serious
crime including possession / distribution of firearms), evicted them from Registered
Social Landlord properties, having 3 ASB closure orders on premises and a number
of individuals being given Anti Social Behaviour Orders. Following the 2 operations a
large block of flats had to be demolished due to their state of repair and no likelihood
of obtaining tenants for the vacant flats a residents group was established although it
has been disbandoned believed due to the fact nominals, their families and
associates are getting back into the area. It is once again getting to the situation
where further houses may have to be demolished due to the same issues unless a
solution is found (two vacant premises were recently set on fire putting other
neighbouring tenants at risk). The criminals (once released from prison), their
associates and families returned to the area in houses run by private landlords. The
registered social landlords run selective renting i.e. vetting anyone moving into the
area, the private landlords however (the majority of which live in other parts of the
country or even other countries) have no such arrangements and as such appear to
be just interested in renting to anyone who asks without cognisance of the effect
these individuals have on the community and environment. With the reputation of the
area, the number of vacant premises and a number in poor state of repair then it is
difficult to rent to anyone who does not have links to these criminals. If tenants are
found for the vacant premises that are not linked to these individuals then they soon
move out due to fear of the individuals and their activities. Vacant premises in the
area are regularly broken into, damage caused and items stolen from them and they
then become ‘dens’ for the criminals to use in order to facilitate their criminal activity
and partake in drug use.
Whilst I do not believe that selective licensing is a panacea to sort the problem it
would certainly greatly assist in preventing so many individuals having a hold over
the area / community. It is noticeable that all the problematic individuals now live in
private landlord houses and as such the Registered Social Landlord premises do not
cause a problem through their self imposed selective renting except that they
constantly have a high volume of vacant premises due to the difficulties, as
aforementioned, in finding suitable, willing, long term tenants to move into the area.
Having Selective Licensing for all landlords in the area would I believe then assist
similar to the RSL self imposed selective renting, it would assist in having houses in
a better state of repair, raise the overall value of houses and prevent as many being
vacant. It would also be beneficial to the private landlords who would be able to get a
better ‘type’ of tenant preventing damage to their houses, lessen the number of
empty premises and assist in having long term tenants’
16