Cabinet to vote on proposal to introduce new scheme to license privately rented homes in Great Yarmouth

The vote follows a public consultation on the proposals earlier this year and, if agreed, officers say it will help ensure there is a thriving housing market where people have homes that are healthy, safe and efficient.

The selective licensing scheme would cover Nelson Ward, Central and Northgate Ward, Southtown and Cobholm Ward and eight streets in Yarmouth North Ward - an area of about 5,000 homes covering about 60 per cent of the borough's privately rented properties.

A report to be presented to councillors on December 2, says the aim is to:

·       Improve housing standards by ensuring privately rented properties meet minimum standards.

·       Promote better property management practices, ensuring that properties are well-maintained and tenants' rights are respected.

·       Hold landlords accountable for the condition and management of their properties, through effective enforcement of legal standards. 

Officers say these objectives will be achieved by:

·       Having a property inspection programme to identify and remedy hazards to health and safety.

·       A monitoring programme to make sure certification relating to gas safety, electrical safety and energy efficiency is up to date.

·       Enforcing licensing conditions to ensure landlords obtain the necessary licenses and comply with conditions.

·       Regularly monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the scheme and making adjustments as necessary.

Before drawing up its proposals, the council carried out a feasibility study which included gathering and analysing data about demographics and the condition of rental accommodation in the borough.

The consultation ran for 11 weeks and sought views from people likely to be affected by the proposed scheme - residents, private tenants, private landlords, letting agents, managing agents, businesses and other stakeholders.

About 200 people attended drop-in sessions at the Town Hall to discuss the scheme and there were 273 individual responses via the consultation which the Cabinet will consider before making its decision.

As a result of feedback, a requirement for landlords to inspect homes every three months has been changed to every six months.

The report also stresses there is little evidence to show rents rise due to licence fees being introduced in other parts of the country with similar schemes. The consultation also showed that many people thought the scheme would have a positive impact on the local community

If the Cabinet agrees, the scheme would be launched next year and last for five years. It would not be allowed to make a profit. The costs of running the scheme would be self financing and covered by a licence fee of £694 for landlords - a reduction from the £784 which was originally proposed.

Councillor Paul Wells, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability, Licensing and Waste, said: ''We already have some powers related to housing, but - if agreed - this scheme will allow us to more effectively deal with a range of issues that impact people. We will be better able to tackle health hazards and overcrowding - which is a real problem for some of our residents.

''We would be able to systematically inspect properties to make sure things like gas and electric certification are up to date, rather than simply reacting to complaints as we currently do.

''Where necessary, we could refuse to issue a licence and hold people accountable. We know the majority of landlords want to do the best they can for tenants, and we want to better engage with them and agents to ensure people have good housing.''