By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
A ‘successful’ scheme to protect renters could be extended across more areas in Gedling, council documents reveal.
The power of selective licensing is used by local authorities to tackle problems in privately rented houses and requires landlords to have a license for each of their rented properties.
In Gedling, the scheme currently covers Netherfield – but now the authority is looking at extending it to Carlton Hill, Colwick, Daybrook and Newstead Abbey wards.
A decision on the plans will be made at Gedling Borough Council’s cabinet meeting on July 6.
Officers recommend the plans are approved, with selective licensing being put into place from November 2022.
The scheme can only be implemented if the council meets the criteria of areas with poor property conditions, significant problems with anti-social behaviour, and high levels of deprivation or crime.
In Nottingham city, where selective licensing renewal was recently discussed, the scheme was criticised by some landlords who said they would have no choice but to increase rent.
A consultation on the plans was carried out for 12 weeks in 2020 and four weeks in April and May 2022.
The results found that 40 per cent of private rented tenants who responded agreed with the council’s proposal to introduce the scheme and 90 per cent of private landlords and 75 per cent of managing agents disagreed with the proposals.
In Netherfield, where selective licensing was implemented in 2018, 78 per cent of properties inspected were found to have health and safety hazards and 40 of those homes had hazards “which presented imminent risk to the occupants”.
As a result, seven civil penalties totalling over £18,000 in fines have been served for offences associated with the scheme.
Gedling Borough Council documents published ahead of the meeting state: “The implementation of the scheme has been successful in terms of achieving compliance, introducing minimum property management standards and improving housing conditions for those living in the Netherfield ward.
“To build on the success of the Netherfield scheme the council leadership were keen to extend the benefits to other areas and authorise a public
consultation to consult on a Phase 2 Selective Licensing proposal.”
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE added: “One of our main priorities is to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents and reduce health inequalities. An important part of that is to ensure our resident’s homes are safe and suitable.
“Our pilot scheme in Netherfield found that 78 per cent of privately rented properties needed work carrying out to them to bring them up to a safe and legal standard for residents to live in.
“As a direct result of Selective Licensing we’ve been able to work with landlords to make the necessary improvements to their properties to help improve the lives and safety of their tenants.
“By extending this scheme to other parts of the borough we’ll be able to monitor privately rented properties closer and be able to do more to step in to help even more residents and landlords if needed.”
