Plans to drive up standards of private sector housing property condition and management agreed by Councillors

Plans to bring forward improvements to private sector housing property condition standards and management in three areas of the Borough have been given the seal of approval by Councillors. 

The next steps to introduce Selective Licensing of privately rented properties was agreed at a meeting of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet last week (October 12).

Under the proposals, all private landlords operating in a designated Selective Licensing area would be required to obtain a licence from the Council.

The licence would be valid for up to five years and would contain a series of conditions that the licence holder will be required to comply with.

The implementation of Selective Licensing is proposed for Central Stockton, North Thornaby and Newtown.

And Councillors have now agreed to commence a detailed public consultation on the plans.

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing, said: "We are delighted to be able to bring forward these proposals and agree the next steps to launch a public consultation on the Selective Licensing scheme.

"There's very strong evidence for what has been brought forward and it's been done in line with Government guidance.

"The reason we are looking at introducing the scheme in Central Stockton and North Thornaby is because they are likely to become areas of low housing demand and have high concentrations of private rented properties.

"In fact, in North Thornaby, 41 per cent of properties are privately rented and this figure is even higher in Central Stockton at 50 per cent. This is way above the national average of 20.3 per cent.

"And in Newtown, as well as having a high concentration of properties privately rented, there are high levels of crime and antisocial behaviour which we want to help address.

"The next steps now are to run an extensive consultation and of course all replies will be considered and inform our decision as to whether we continue with the proposed plans."

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