LANDLORDS have claimed plans to clamp down on rented properties in Oxford are driven by "ideological hatred" of the private sector and will push up prices across the city.

Oxford City Council says licensing all rented properties would tackle "rogue landlords" and improve standards, with a draft document suggesting the measure could be introduced by January 2017.

This is set to be considered by senior councillors next month but an official claimed it was "premature" to provide further details before it had been approved.

But the National Landlords' Association said the proposal amounted to "nothing more than a tax on those who live in the private rented sector" and claimed the local authority was failing to properly enforce existing licensing schemes.

NLA policy officer Gavin Dick said: "This policy has not been properly thought through.

"If this scheme is taken forward, anyone who is renting could potentially be facing higher costs and the council should be clear to people that it is responsible.

"It seems to have an ideological hatred of the private rented sector and wants to just tax it again and again."

North Oxford-based landlord Robin Swailes said: "It would lead to rent increases – but that is the price of a premium product, because it creates a lot more bureaucracy."

The draft document published by the city council says: "Selective licensing would prevent rogue landlords from operating where the scheme applied and require property improvements to be made."

But it added: "The council would have to identify the factors affecting the area, consider the best options and be satisfied that the introduction of a selective licensing scheme would provide the best solution."

At the moment the city council only requires landlords of homes in multiple occupation (HMOs) to acquire licences, which require them to ensure properties meet fire, electric and gas safety standards and be in a good state of repair.

It is estimated there are about 15,000 rented properties in the city, with about 10,000 not covered by the HMO licensing scheme.

But proposals included in a draft document – consulted on earlier this year – would roll the restrictions out to all types of rented properties.

To do this the council would have to meet certain conditions and could only apply it at first to 20 per cent of the city or private rent sector.

But David Smith, a lawyer who has represented several Oxford landlords in cases brought by the council, said: "The city council does not really know what percentage of landlords letting HMOs are part of their scheme, but some estimates are as low as 50 per cent.

"I fail to see how they can say that is successful.

"Most who have signed up would have done so anyway and the council is known for plucking the low-hanging fruit."

Ian Wright, the city council's environmental health service manager, said the National Landlords Association's criticism were "disappointing and fundamentally flawed" and dismissed the group, which he said "barely represents one per cent of UK landlords".

He added: "The council has a strong belief that the private rented sector in Oxford should be improved so that it works better for everyone involved.

"It has not yet considered the report on the private sector housing policy, which is due to go to the July city executive board, so it is premature to talk about policies that have yet to be approved by councillors.

"The council is already carrying out a substantial proactive inspection programme in the private rented sector that has seen a thirty-fold rise in enforcement action in three years.

"Before any Selective Licensing Scheme can be put in place, legal advice will be required to ensure that any evidence to support a scheme is sufficiently robust and to ensure that any proposed scheme is lawful and consistent with statutory guidance.

"The council also has a strong track record of enforcement with regard to its HMO Licensing scheme with over a hundred landlords being prosecuted or cautioned since the scheme began and just a couple of weeks ago five landlords were prosecuted in the courts on one day."

He said 70 per cent of the estimated total 5,240 HMOs were licensed, which is the current target. By next year the authority has pledged to reach 75 per cent and then 80 per cent in 2018/19.