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Scarborough Council approves Selective Licensing Scheme for private sector rental properties (17 March 2017)

Date: 17/03/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Scarborough Council approves Selective Licensing Scheme for private sector rental properties

Scarborough Council has approved the introduction of a Selective Licensing Scheme for privately rented properties within parts of the Castle and North Bay wards in Scarborough, which is designed to ensure that properties are safe and being managed appropriately.

The decision follows extensive consultation about the scheme in 2016 with local residents, landlords and businesses. The scheme will take effect from 1 July 2017 and will operate for a period of five years.

The scheme will run in areas where there are high concentrations of privately rented properties, of which a large number are in poor condition and poorly managed, said the council.

Landlords of privately rented properties in these areas will need to apply for a licence from Scarborough Council and then comply with a range of licensing conditions designed to tackle the existing problems.

The council added that the scheme would enable it to employ extra staff to undertake inspections of properties and work with landlords to ensure that all privately rented properties within the designated area met appropriate standards.

Landlords with properties in the designated area that fail to apply for a licence – or do not comply with the licensing conditions – will be subject to prosecution.

A fine of up to £20,000 may be imposed – in addition, breaking any of the licence conditions could result in fines of up to £5,000 per offence.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Health, Councillor Bill Chatt, said:

“I am pleased to see the introduction of the Selective Licensing Scheme within parts of the Castle and North Bay wards.

“I know that officers from our Residential Regulation Team are constantly dealing with properties in the area – which are simply not up to standard and in many cases unsafe.

“Selective Licensing will mean that tenants of privately rented properties in the area will know their home is safe – and that their landlord will manage their property responsibly.”


The council has now issued a formal Public Notice for the introduction of the scheme – details of the Public Notice and a map of the area and list of streets that will be covered by the selective licensing designation can be accessed on the council’s website.

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