Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the introduction of selective licensing in relevant areas and the level of private-sector rates; and if he will make a statement.

Selective licensing allows local authorities to license all privately rented housing in a designated area that suffers from low housing demand and/or significant anti-social behaviour. The Department does not routinely collect information on the number or extent of licensing schemes although local authorities were asked on a one-off voluntary basis to provide this information last year. 194 local authorities responded, of which 14 had introduced licensing. While an assessment of the impact of licensing on private sector rents has not been undertaken, we believe that licensing puts unnecessary extra costs on good landlords, thereby pushing up rents, and reduces choice.