Issue - meetings

The Mayor and Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health submitted a report for Executive consideration.

Local authorities had powers to introduce Selective Landlord Licensing (SLL) schemes for a five-year period in areas with a high number of private rented properties, low housing demand, poor housing conditions, high levels of deprivation, crime and migration and/or significant and persistent anti-social behaviour associated with the tenants of private rented properties.

The purpose of such a scheme was to improve standards of property management in the private rented sector, and when combined with other measures, leading to improved physical, social and economic conditions and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. There were currently three SLL schemes operating in Middlesbrough; one in North Ormesby and two in the Newport ward (commonly known as Newport 1 and Newport 2). Newport 1 scheme was due to end on 12th June 2024. An evaluation of the scheme had been carried out which showed improvement in a number of areas.

The area continued to experience major challenges and therefore it was proposed that it would benefit from a further five-year period of designation as a Selective Landlord Licensing Scheme. The SLL schemes in Middlesbrough did not meet the threshold for Secretary of State approval which was required for those schemes that cover 20% or more of its geographical area or privately rented properties, provided that the authority had consulted for at least 10 weeks on the proposed designation. The schemes in Middlesbrough did not meet the threshold for Secretary of State approval and a ten-week period of consultation had been undertaken. The report provided a summary of the responses to the consultation for consideration by Executive and sought its approval for the Selective Landlord Licensing Scheme to go ahead in the Newport 1 area.

ORDERED

That Executive approve the designation of Selective Landlord Licensing in the Newport 1 area.

OPTIONS

Do not renew the SLL designation/new designations and carry out alternative interventions to replace of a formal scheme.

Alternatives to Selective Licensing were considered in 2014, 2019 and 2023 prior to the designation of the current Selective Licensing areas. These included voluntary registration and the use of traditional enforcement tools. These would have required significant additional investment by the Council to achieve any sustainable change across the area.

There was a need to ensure that that proactive assessment of properties and an increased focus on renting and management practices was sustained. While Selective Landlord Licensing was not intended to be indefinite, a shift to an alternative non-regulatory approach or only relying on traditional reactive enforcement tools were not considered appropriate to sustain or progress the improvements achieved.

Traditional interventions did not provide the level of engagement with landlords necessary for the desired improvements. Landlord take up of previous accreditation schemes had been very low, they tended to only engage with responsible landlords who saw a value in being part of a scheme. An example of a non-mandatory scheme is the Stockton Pluss model which was run by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93