A local councillor has called for a licensing scheme, which holds landlords accountable for housing repairs, to be made city wide.

Two previous pilot schemes saw a total of £1.45m improvements of housing repairs. They forced landlords to fix £250,000 repairs on a small scale in Chesterfield Road, London Road, Abbeydale Road and Page Hall.

The Crookes and Crosspool councillor, Minesh Parekh, said the council has a tendency to deprioritise “student heavy areas” such as Crookesmoor and Broomhill. 

Mr Parekh said: “I don’t think anyone’s housing quality should be left to chance, left to a lottery system.”

The scheme in Page Hall saw the largest improvements of £1.2m which shows the potential of a landlord licensing in Sheffield. 

Sheffield resident Abi Cowley, 20, lives at home, but she often witnessed her friends struggling with student accommodation as small repairs were often dismissed.

Nationally the Renters Right Act will be enforced in May 2026. This will change fixed term tenancies for private renters to a monthly rolling contract. 

Initially, this will provide more security for tenants over their landlords.

Mr Parekh said: “In student heavy areas, you’ve got more transit to your population and therefore you’ve got people who are potentially less likely to raise issues with the council than other areas with large numbers of private renters.”

The Labour government in December 2024 lifted the requirement of Secretary of State approval being needed for selective licensing schemes.

The previous restrictions in 2015 meant schemes required general approval and for at least 20% of the area had to be covered in the planning for it to be reviewed by the government.

The landlord licensing scheme motion is being considered by Sheffield City Council.

The councillor urged renters to contact councillors on the housing committee and to email phs@sheffield.gov.uk to show support for a landlord licensing scheme.