North Lincolnshire Council has agreed tougher rules for landlords in a part of Scunthorpe to try to improve housing conditions. An area covering approximately 1,230 private-let homes in Crosby and Park and Town Wards will be subject to a selective licensing scheme for at least five years. The scheme requires landlords to pay a fee to the council to be able to rent in the area, and to maintain certain housing standards.
The council's Cabinet agreed this week, to issue a designation notice. Selective licensing can only legally begin at least three months after this. A 78-day long consultation produced more opposition than support, however, for the scheme.
Another area proposed, covering in Frodingham Ward around 275 households in private sector rented properties, has been deferred as a result. The Crosby and Park and Town Ward selective licensing area will cover addresses in more than 40 streets. It stretches from Old Crosby in the north to a part of Scunthorpe High Street in the south.
East-west, the area largely aligns with from Normanby Road to Buckingham Street. A map of the entire area can be viewed here . 'An improvement of housing conditions' Cllr Richard Hannigan, deputy council leader, stated there had been a challenge from a Crosby landlords' association to the proposals, who "will receive a full response in writing in due course".
"What I need to say is this is a consultation, not a referendum." He said the council "went down this route in 2017" and in light of comments received, gave landlords an opportunity to raise standards, including through a voluntary sign-up scheme. "Sadly, there's not been an improvement.
In fact, if anything, the housing stock has deterioriated." The risk of respiratory problems was double among children in cold homes, according to The Institute of Health Equity, Cllr Hannigan reported. "The introduction of selective licensing in North Lincolnshire will make a positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of residents.
" Where the selective licensing scheme in Scunthorpe will operate, in Crosby and Park, and Town Wards (Image: North Lincolnshire Council / Crown copyright) He called the additional powers with the scheme, requiring well-maintained homes to be able to rent in the licensing area, "crucial". The consultation in February to April did not produce majority support for selective licensing from its 202 participants. But there was more support in the Crosby and Park and Town Wards area, than Frodingham, including 100 per cent support from people living in the home they own.
So it was decided to proceed with the first area. The Frodingham proposed licensing zone will be monitored for six months. But if there is not a "significant improvement" in housing conditions, this will also become a selective licensing area.
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If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Labour Cllr Naseer Ahmed, Crosby and Park Ward, asked about the timeframe and what collected license fee money would be spent on. It will be spent on the scheme itself, Cllr Hannigan confirmed.
"That's the benefit of this, is that it's a self-funding licensing scheme." On the speed of setting it up, there would be "commencement immediately, subsequent to this meeting" to issue the required three months notice. Council leader Cllr Rob Waltham added the computer system associated with it was "certainly down the line in terms of negotiations".
"Are you certain once this policy is in place that it will address the issues concerning within the area?" asked Town Ward Labour Cllr Mashook Ali. Cllr Hannigan said officers had spoken to other local authorities who had implemented selective licensing, and support organisations. "The consensus of opinion is these schemes do secure an improvement of housing conditions within an area.
" Cllr Lorraine Yeadon, pictured, described a selective licensing regime as "worth a go" to address housing issues in Town Ward (Image: North Lincolnshire Council) Cllr Lorrain Yeadon, Town Ward, said she and Cllr Ali had consulted widely as ward councillors people's views on the move. "The overriding view was it's worth a go. We need to do something, it's worth a go.
" For Cllr Hannigan, he reiterated the potential benefits to people's health of raising housing standards. "When you look at the wider determinants of health, housing lies right at the heart of it." During the consultation, the proposed fee regime consisted of £955 initial registration for landlords registering a property to be licensed to rent out.
Then a further £340 annual fee. However, the fee regime will be subject to some amendment in line with consultation responses. These supported the principle of higher fees for non-compliant landlords, and lower for landlords that get accredited.
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Tougher rules for landlords of rental properties to be introduced in Scunthorpe
Approximately 1,230 private rented homes will be within the selective licensing area.