People in Greater Manchester neighbourhood face new £600 fee

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Private housing landlords in Broughton and Kersal could be hit with a £609 fee under a new selective licensing scheme by Salford council.

More than 1,300 properties in the Broughton and the Kersal and Broughton Park wards could be impacted after the town hall agreed to launch a consultation on the plan.

It aims to make sure private landlords 'abide by rules set by the council.' READ MORE: Plans for highly sustainable social housing development in Salford From 2016 to 2021 a previous version of the scheme was in place which lasted five years, costing £625 at the time.

Salford council decided not to raise the fee this time despite the pressures of inflation. A town hall report states that local authorities can use selective licensing when it will 'benefit tenants and communities in areas of low housing demand and/or where there are significant problems of anti-social behaviour.' Speaking at Salford's cabinet meeting on July 9, a council officer said one reason for introducing the scheme is due to the area having "increasing numbers of properties staying empty for long times." Salford's deputy city mayor Tracy Kelly said: “It is important that local people have their say on this selective licensing scheme and put their views to us so they can help shape our full decision. "Evidence in the area shows that challenges come with the amount of private rented properties in the area. “Our aim is to make sure that local people have access to well-managed, affordable homes and that rogue landlords have no place in the area. "This all links in with our commitment to create a fairer and more inclusive city for local people.” Robin Garrido, leader of the Conservatives at Salford council, said the £609 fee seemed "extortionate" and