Council set to tackle rogue landlords
Landlords will now have to pay to rent out properties in town
Landlords in the centre of Scarborough will be hit with a new licensing fee as the borough council looks to crack down on rogue property providers. Scarborough Borough Council’s Full Council 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 followed 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 operate in areas where there are high concentrations of privately rented properties, of which a large number are in poor condition and poorly managed.
Landlords of privately rented properties in these areas will need to apply for a licence from the council and then comply with a range of licensing conditions designed to tackle the existing problems.
The scheme will enable the council to employ extra staff to undertake inspections of these properties and work with landlords to ensure that all privately rented properties within the designated area meet 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.
Cllr Bill Chatt, Scarborough Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and public health, 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.”
In November last year, a North West based property landlord was fined £24,000 after being found guilty of 18 offences relating to the poor management of property he owns and rents out in one of the areas now covered by the new licences in Scarborough.
Gary Fixter of Hoole Lane, Chester was prosecuted by the council for a series of management failures in flats at 4/5 Leading Post Street, which he let out as a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Speaking after the verdict Andrew Rowe, Scarborough Borough Council’s housing manager, said: “This property is one of the worst we have seen within our borough for many years. As a landlord, Mr Fixter has shown scant regard for the well-being or health and safety of his tenants, many of whom are vulnerable. The property has been left to fall into a filthy and dangerous condition.
“Essential repairs have not been undertaken and fire safety has been compromised.
“It is not acceptable that rogue landlords should exploit vulnerable people in this way.”
Cllr Bill Chatt said that on a visit to the flat it was found that painting had been carried out around furniture and even around clothes and other items left around the floor.