Have your say on plans to introduce Selective Licensing of private rented housing

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is seeking people's views on the introduction of Selective Licensing of private rented housing across the Borough.

The Council launched a consultation today (Monday, 6 November) as part of its plans to drive up private rental property standards and management.

The consultation is the latest step in proposals to introduce Selective Licensing, bringing forward improvements to private rented housing property condition standards and management in Central Stockton, North Thornaby and Newtown.

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

Councillors approved the consultation at a Cabinet meeting held on 12 October.

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing said: "Central Stockton and North Thornaby are areas in our Borough experiencing low housing demand and where the number of privately rented properties far exceeds the national average, so it's really important that people tell us what they think about the Selective Licensing Scheme.

"Your responses will also help us to address issues faced by residents in Newtown, where there are high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour and again there are high concentrations of private rented housing. All replies to the consultation will inform our decision-making, so I would urge everyone to complete the survey to share your thoughts."

Visit the Selective Licensing webpage to complete the survey before 4pm on Friday, 19 January.

For Council news direct to your inbox, sign up to our My Council Newsletter.