Selective licensing

Selective Licensing accreditation requirements

Accredited landlords or managing agents will receive a discount on the stage two licence fee providing:

  1. The application is duly made by 30 November 2022; and
  2. The application is duly made up to 4 weeks before OR up to 12 weeks after the tenancy start date; and
  3. Signed Tenancy Agreements have been provided; and
  4. All relevant safety certificates are submitted; and
  5. The landlord or or managing agent (with full management control)  holds accreditation at the time they apply.

What is a duly made application?

The application form and declaration must be completed and stage one fee must be paid for the application to be considered duly made.

What safety certificates are needed?

  • Gas Safety certificate, if gas installations provided by the landlord in the property. This is an annual certificate required by the The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
  • Electrical Installation Inspection and Testing Report stating the installation is satisfactory. From 01 April 2020 under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 , private landlords have been required to ensure the electrical installation in the residential premises is inspected and tested at regular intervals by a qualified person with an inspection interval of no more than 5 years.
    • NB – if the certificate is “unsatisfactory” with C1 or C2 items then you must supply written evidence that the C1 / C2 items have been repaired or obtain a new certificate
  • Energy Performance Certificate, at Band E or above unless:
    • There is a Registered Exemption for EPC regulations; or
    • The property is exempt from the requirement to have an EPC e.g. the property does not require an EPC because it has not been marketed

What accreditation schemes do you accept?

Landlord managed properties (where the landlord does not employ a managing agent with full control)

Where the managing agent has full management control

Either

  • the licence holder can be accredited as above

or

  • the managing agent is accredited with one of either:
    • ARLA
    • Safeagent and in addition, the agency must have one person holding the Level 3 Award in Residential Letting and Property Management
    • UKALA and in addition, the agency must have one person holding the Level 3 Award in Residential Letting and Property Management
    • National Code of Standards for Larger Developments for University Accommodation NOT managed or controlled by University Establishments

NB: ARLA membership requirements include the Level 3 Award however the Safeagent and UKALA schemes do not include the Level 3 Award as a requirement.

We therefore no longer offer OCLAS membership to agents. A list of accredited agents under the above schemes has been published on our website. 

If I have a Scottish accreditation (or from Wales or Northern Ireland) then will you accept these?

No. We looked at these schemes in the consultation. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different regulations on private renting and for that reason we will not accept accreditation from Scotland, Welsh or Northern Irish schemes. 

I am an OCLAS Accredited landlord. Will this be valid until it expires and then do I need to apply for the new ATLAS scheme?

Yes, your current OCLAS accreditation continues and when it expires, at that point you apply to ATLAS or become accredited with another acceptable accreditation scheme as outlined above.

Is there a penalty for not being accredited?

No, accreditation is optional. A landlord or agent can choose if they wish to undertake an accreditation course. There is a discount for accredited landlords but there is no obligation to gain accreditation.