2015 No. 977
Housing, England
The Selective Licensing of Houses (Additional Conditions) (England) Order 2015
Made 26th March 2015
Coming into force in accordance with article 1

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 80(7) and (8) and 250(2) of the Housing Act 2004.
2004 c.34.
In accordance with section 250(6) of the Housing Act 2004, a draft of this instrument was laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

1 Application, citation and commencement
This Order, which applies in relation to England only, may be cited as the Selective Licensing of Houses (Additional Conditions) (England) Order 2015 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

2 Interpretation
In this Order, “the 2004 Act” means the Housing Act 2004.

3 Conditions specified for the purposes of section 80(2)(b) of the 2004 Act
1 The following conditions are specified as additional conditions for the purposes of section 80(2)(b) of the 2004 Act, which a local housing authority must consider are satisfied in relation to the area before making a selective licensing designation under this provision—
(a) that the area contains a high proportion of properties in the private rented sector, in relation to the total number of properties in the area;
(b) that the properties referred to in sub-paragraph (a) are occupied either under assured tenancies or licences to occupy; and
(c) that one or more of the sets of conditions in articles 4 to 7 is satisfied.
2 For the purposes of this article, a property shall not be regarded as being in the private rented sector where the landlord is a private registered provider of social housing, as defined by section 80 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008.
2008 c.17. Section 80(3) was inserted by S.I. 2010/844.

4 Conditions in relation to housing conditions
The first set of conditions is—
(a) that having carried out a review of housing conditions under section 3(1) of the 2004 Act, the local housing authority considers it would be appropriate for a significant number of the properties referred to in article 3(1)(a) to be inspected, with a view to determining whether any category 1 or category 2 hazards exist on the premises;
See sections 4 to 7 of the Housing Act 2004 (c.34).
(b) that the local housing authority intends to carry out such inspections as referred to in paragraph (a), with a view to carrying out any necessary enforcement action; and
(c) that making a designation will, when combined with other measures taken in the area by the local housing authority, or by other persons together with the local housing authority, including any licence conditions imposed under section 90 of the 2004 Act, contribute to an improvement in general housing conditions in the area.

5 Conditions in relation to migration
The second set of conditions is—
(a) that the area has recently experienced or is experiencing an influx of migration into it;
(b) that a significant number of the properties referred to in article 3(1)(a) are occupied by those migrants referred to in paragraph (a); and
(c) that making a designation will, when combined with other measures taken in the area by the local housing authority, or by other persons together with the local housing authority, contribute to—
(i) the preservation or improvement of the social or economic conditions in the area; and
(ii) ensuring that the properties referred to in article 3(1)(a) are properly managed, and in particular, that overcrowding is prevented.

6 Conditions in relation to deprivation
1 The third set of conditions is—
(a) that the area is suffering from a high level of deprivation, which affects a significant number of the occupiers of properties referred to in article 3(1)(a); and
(b) that making a designation will, when combined with other measures taken in the area by the local housing authority, or by other persons together with the local housing authority, contribute to a reduction in the level of deprivation in the area.
2 In determining whether an area is suffering from a high level of deprivation, the local housing authority may have regard to the following factors in relation to the area—
(a) the employment status of adults;
(b) the average income of households;
(c) the health of households;
(d) the availability and ease of access to education, training and other services for households;
(e) housing conditions;
(f) the physical environment; and
(g) levels of crime.

7 Conditions in relation to crime
The fourth set of conditions is—
(a) that the area suffers from high levels of crime;
(b) that the criminal activity affects those living in the properties referred to in article 3(1)(a), or other households and businesses in the area; and
(c) that making a designation will, when combined with other measures taken in the area by the local housing authority, other persons together with the local housing authority or by the police, contribute to a reduction in the levels of crime in the area, for the benefit of those living in the area.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Ahmad Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Communities and Local Government 26th March 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order specifies sets of conditions, in addition to the conditions set out in section 80 of the Housing Act 2004 (c.34), where if a set of conditions is satisfied in relation to an area, the local housing authority may make a selective licensing designation in respect of that area. Such a designation, once it comes into force, would have the effect of requiring landlords of private rented sector properties in the designated area to obtain a licence for their property.
Article 3 of the Order sets out that for an area to be designated as subject to selective licensing under the conditions in this Order, the area must contain a high proportion of properties in the private rented sector, in relation to the total housing accommodation in that area. These privately rented properties must be occupied under assured tenancies or licenses to occupy.
Articles 4 to 7 contain four sets of additional conditions – these relate to poor housing conditions, migration, deprivation and crime. If one or more of these sets of conditions is met, along with the conditions set out in article 3, a selective licensing designation may be made.
An impact assessment has been produced for this instrument and a copy of this will be available from the Department for Communities and Local Government website (www.gov.uk/dclg) or by contacting Jonathan Bramhall on 0303 444 1803.