Aim 3: Reasons for agreement or disagreement

• Of respondents who ‘slightly’ or ‘strongly agree’ that licensing will help to drive up housing standards in properties where there is poor management, need for repairs, amenity and safety issues, over a tenth feel this way as landlords will be held accountable by authorities and require inspections (13%), and landlords will need to meet minimum living standards set by licensing (11%)
• Of respondents who ‘neither agree nor disagree’ that licensing will help to meet this aim, 8% of respondents feel not enough focus is on bad landlords who will not meet the standards
• Of respondents who ‘slightly’ or ‘strongly disagree’ that licensing will help to drive up housing standards in properties where there is poor management, need for repairs, amenity and safety issues, just under a fifth feel concerned that the council will not be able to enforce the licensing adequately (18%), or that HMOs should not need/ be approached through blanket standards from additional licensing (17%)

This table shows the most common themes around why respondents ‘slightly’ or ‘strongly agree’ that licensing will help to meet Aim 3: ‘To drive up housing standards in properties where there is poor management, need for repairs, amenity and safety issues’:
13% of respondents feel landlords will be held accountable by authorities and require inspections
11% of respondents feel landlords will need to meet minimum living standards set by licensing
7% of respondents feel effective enforcement will be needed
7% of respondents feel general agreement with the objective of the aim
2% of respondents feel it will ensure landlords complete repairs in adequate time
2% of respondents feel the local area will be improved by HMOs needing to meet external standards
9% of respondents give other comments
52% of respondents give no comment

This table shows the most common themes around why respondents ‘neither agree nor disagree’ that licensing will help to meet Aim 3: ‘To drive up housing standards in properties where there is poor management, need for repairs, amenity and safety issues’:
8% of respondents feel there is not enough focus on bad landlords who will not meet the standards
7% of respondents feel concerned about adequacy of enforcement
5% of respondents feel it is difficult to see success of previous schemes
5% of respondents feel concerned about increase in costs
4% of respondents feel standards are too rigid
4% of respondents feel general disagreement with HMOs
3% of respondents feel unsure why licensing is required to achieve this
9% of respondents give other comments
57% of respondents give no comment

This table shows the most common themes around why respondents ‘slightly’ or ‘strongly disagree’ that licensing will help to meet Aim 3: ‘To drive up housing standards in properties where there is poor management, need for repairs, amenity and safety issues’:
18% of respondents feel concern that the council will not be able to enforce this adequately
17% of respondents feel it should not need/ be approached through blanket standards from additional licensing
13% of respondents feel additional costs will increase tenants’ rent with little benefit or reduce availability of HMOs
12% of respondents feel most landlords already maintain properties to a high standard and/or will be unfairly penalised
11% of respondents feel bad landlords will not register for the scheme and will fly under the radar
7% of respondents feel previous schemes have not been successful
7% of respondents feel it does not address where landlord is not the issue
7% of respondents feel general disagreement with HMOs
14% of respondents give other comments
24% of respondents give no comment