Selective licensing for Scarborough South privately rented properties
It will be in Weaponness and Ramshill wards
From 1st May next year Scarborough Borough Council will introduce selective licensing of privately rented properties to parts of Scarborough’s Weaponness and Ramshill ward.
The scheme, to be known as Scarborough South, will operate in areas where there are high concentrations of these properties, a large number of which are in poor condition and poorly managed.
Landlords of privately rented properties in the designated area will need to apply for a licence from the council and comply with a range of licensing conditions designed to tackle the problems.
Plans for the rollout of the scheme, including engagement with landlords and residents, can now begin after the council received government approval following a delay of almost 15 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Government approval was required because the introduction of the scheme means there will be more than 20% of privately rented properties - the limit the government puts in place for councils to introduce their own schemes without national approval - subject to selective licensing in the borough.
The scheme is one of the few to have been approved by government in recent years.
The Scarborough South scheme will be in place from 1 May 2022 until 30 April 2027.
Landlords that fail to apply for a licence, or do not comply with the licensing conditions, will be subject to prosecution. An unlimited fine may be imposed. In addition, breaking any of the licence conditions could result in fines of up to £5,000 per offence.
The council will undertake inspections of the properties and work with landlords to ensure that all privately rented properties within the designated area meet appropriate standards.
Along with the two existing schemes already in operation in other parts of the town, the Scarborough South scheme will take the number of privately rented homes covered by a selective licensing scheme in the borough to more than 3,000 properties.
The council has issued a formal public notice for the scheme, which along with a map of the area and list of streets that will be covered, can be viewed at https://www.scarborough.gov.uk/home/housing/selective-licensing-scarborough-south.
Cllr Carl Maw, Scarborough Borough Council cabinet member for housing and stronger communities said:
"I am pleased to see the introduction of the selective licensing scheme within parts of the Weaponness and Ramshill ward.
“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 those privately rented properties will know their home is safe and that their landlord will have to manage their property responsibly."