Councillor Josh Brooks, Salford City Council’s executive support member for housing and anti-poverty said: “We estimate there are around 425 such properties across the city.
“Evidence shows that many of these converted flats are not meeting the standards we expect, so we are taking decisive action.
“To secure a licence, they will need to demonstrate that their properties are safe, well managed and meet the required standards, including appropriate fire safety measures.
“This will help us identify properties more effectively, hold landlords to account, protect tenants and ultimately drive-up standards in the private rented sector.”
The idea has already come under fire from local landlords and organisations such as the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).
In a letter addressed to the council, Samantha Watkin, a NRLA senior policy officer wrote: “Additional licensing schemes often place the greatest burden on compliant landlords, while those who operate under the radar are less likely to engage.
“The administrative and financial cost associated with additional licensing, especially for small-scale landlords, undermines the financial feasibility of renting their property and may lead to a reduction of supply within Salford altogether.”