Doncaster Look To Expand Selective Licensing

Doncaster Look To Expand Selective Licensing

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council have begun the consultation process for a new selective licensing scheme in the area of Edlington. This scheme, if successful, will run alongside their pre-existing selective licensing scheme in Hexthorpe. The council states the reason for this scheme is to “help tackle the evidenced Anti-Social behaviour in this area”.

Selective Licensing was introduced under the Housing Act 2004. The Housing Act 2004 says that before introducing selective licensing to any area local Councils must consult with all affected people, such as tenants, residents, landlords, managing agents, businesses, Police, Fire Service, local Councillors etc.

Selective Licensing applies to all private rented sector houses that are not licensed under HMO licensing, this includes non licensable HMOs. An area may be designated for selective licensing either (i) if the area is (or is likely to be) an area of low housing demand or (ii) the area is experiencing a significant and persistent problem caused by anti social behaviour that local authorities attribute to private sector landlords failing to take action to combat against unruly tenants. A designation can last up to five years.

As part of the licence, the holders of the licence will be required to comply with licensing conditions, some of which are mandatorily imposed by the Housing Act, and local licensing conditions from the council itself. Doncaster Council have proposed over 22 additional conditions that landlords would have to comply with if this consultation is successful, which range from how refuse and waste must be dealt, alley gates must be managed, and energy efficiency. These conditions can be found under ‘Downloads & Resources’ on the page here, entitled ‘SL Licensing Conditions’.

The council are proposing a fee of £515 for each property rented, no details on possible discounts have been published yet.

There will be 2 landlords’ information events held in the Civic Office during the consultation period where you can come and ask questions to inform your responses to the questionnaire. These will be held on:

• Tuesday 23 May 2017, 10am – 1pm, Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster
• Thursday 8 June 2017, 2pm – 5pm, Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster

We urge our members to attend these events to get their views heard directly by representatives of the council.

The consultation comes to an end on 11th July 2017. If you are affected by this proposal please complete the survey on-line at doncaster.gov.uk/SelectiveLicensing or, to request a paper survey, email SelectiveLicensing@doncaster.gov.uk or call 01302 737573.

Official responses can also be sent in the form of a letter to the email address provided. To see how the RLA replies to consultations and our general objections to licensing, visit the consultation pages here. The RLA will be making an official response opposing this scheme and we urge our members to do the same.

Full details on this consultation can be found on the council’s website here.

by India Cocking

Source:https://news.rla.org.uk/doncaster-look-expand-selective-licensing/