To apply for approval for a selective licensing scheme, local authorities need a good understanding of their local private rental market, which is hard to gather without already having a scheme in place.30 The time and resource needed to produce an application, and the requirement that schemes last only five years, present barriers to local authorities.31 The Department says it offers a dialogue with local authorities to help them apply for licensing schemes, but local authorities say there i...

To apply for approval for a selective licensing scheme, local authorities need a good understanding of their local private rental market, which is hard to gather without already having a scheme in place.30 The time and resource needed to produce an application, and the requirement that schemes last only five years, present barriers to local authorities.31 The Department says it offers a dialogue with local authorities to help them apply for licensing schemes, but local authorities say there is poor communication and limited feedback, as well as a concern that the process is not sufficiently open and transparent.32 24 C&AG’s Report, para 10, 1 Type: conclusion | Number: 14 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 4: PAC conclusion: Local Authorities are constrained by the Department’s approach to licensing landlords. 4: PAC recommendation: As part of its planned reforms, the Department should assess whether current arrangements for licensing schemes are working, and wheth