Leeds City Council have approved plans to more closely regulate private landlords following a major public consultation.
Originally announced by the council last year, the scheme will require landlords to obtain a licence for any residential property they’re seeking to let.
The conditions of the licence include ensuring the safe working of gas or electric appliances, providing working fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and keeping the property in a ‘decent state of repair, both inside and out’.
Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing said: “We are determined, as a council, to ensure that everyone in Leeds can enjoy the stability and sense of security that comes with having a safe, warm and well-managed place to live.”
She added: “I’m delighted, therefore, that the business case for a new and expanded selective licensing scheme has been endorsed by the council’s executive board.
“Today’s decision means we can now press ahead with preparations for the introduction of a scheme that we believe will make a huge difference to the standard of privately-rented homes.”
The scheme will apply to 12,500 privately rented properties in Armley, Beeston & Holbeck, Burmantofts & Richmond Hill, Gipton & Harehills, Hunslet & Riverside and Farnley & Wortley council wards.
The go-ahead for the expanded plan follows the results of two selective licensing schemes which had been in operation in the Beeston and Harehills area since 2020, this type of scheme can only run for a period of up to five years.
This involved the inspection of 6,700 properties, with issues being identified at 1,430 of them.
These findings resulted in around 400 fines for landlords who were deemed to have ‘failed to do what was asked of them’.
Consultation on the council’s plans took place over a 12 week period last year, with many landlords voicing opposition to the proposed changes.
🏘 I'm really pleased that the next phase of work to improve private rented sector housing here in Leeds will arrive in February 2026. 🏘
— Andrew Scopes (@andrew_scopes) October 20, 2025
Last time, because of selective licensing, improvement work was carried out by landlords at around 1,430 homes.https://t.co/3dFulqke3q
In an executive board meeting, Councillor Alan Lamb, the Leader of the Opposition, voiced his concerns about the licensing scheme.
He said: “While the aim and objective has been perfectly understandable to try and improve conditions, it feels as if it assumes all landlords are bad landlords and are providing a bad service.
“I simply do not believe that is the case and the evidence doesn’t back it up”
He added: “The objective is right, the means of achieving it is simply not working.
“It’s time to think again, work properly with the sector to try and address the real issue which is poor quality housing for people who often don’t have any other choice.”
Following this decision, the council say they will begin to take steps to ensure awareness of the new scheme reaches those concerned before its introduction in February.