Private Rented Service Online

SELECTIVE LICENSING OF PRIVATE SECTOR LANDLORDS IN GREATER HIGH CROSS

You may recall that we consulted with you last year on the introduction of Selective Licensing in the Greater High Cross Area.

We are please  to inform all landlords in the area that a scheme to licence all private Landlords in this area will be introduced on September 6th 2010.

The introduction of Selective Licensing will support the long term regeneration of this area which began with it being designated a Renewal Area in 2007.  Since then it has benefited from a range of interventions including £5m of grant funding towards improving the external appearance of the area.

Below are some Questions and Answers on what selective licensing is and what it means;

What is Selective Licensing?

Selective Licensing is used in areas suffering from low demand or anti-social behaviour. It provides councils with the power to licence private landlords for up to 5 years. This will make landlords more accountable for looking after their properties and their tenants.

Why has Selective Licensing been introduced in the Greater High Cross area?

Newcastle City Council has introduced Selective Licensing in your area for the following reasons:

Some properties have been poorly managed by some private landlords.

There are a large number of empty properties.

Low property values when compared with the rest of Newcastle.

An increase in short term tenancies.

High levels of poor property maintenance.

High levels of complaints relating to environmental issues.

How will the area benefit from Selective Licensing?

We believe that Selective Licensing will benefit the area by  

Ensuring privately rented properties are well managed.

Tackling unprofessional landlords and supporting good landlords.

Reducing anti-social behaviour.

Increasing demand for properties.

Ensuring the local area is a more attractive place to live; and

Encouraging responsible tenants to stay.

Who needs to be licensed?

All private landlords or their managing agents who operate within the area will need to apply for a licence for each of their properties. A licence will be granted to either the owner or the management company. Some tenancies are exempt from the scheme e.g. tenancies under a long lease, holiday lets and business tenancies, and those managed by Your Homes Newcastle or a Registered Social Landlord.

If I'm a landlord, what will I need to do?

You will need to complete an application form which we will send to you before September. Additional copies will also be available from www.newcastle.gov.uk. You will also need to meet certain criteria to get a licence.

Licence holders and their managers (where applicable) must be fit and proper. All applicants will need to sign an informed consent form to enable the Selective Licensing Team to determine the applicants ‘suitability’ as a landlord.

Applicants must have satisfactory procedures in place for managing the property and for dealing with anti-social behaviour.

Properties must be suitable for the number of occupants.

Attached to the licence will be a number of conditions which must be adhered to.

Newcastle City Council will be working hard to support landlords throughout the application process and to assist you in meeting the criteria in order to qualify for a licence.

What will happen if I don't apply for a licence?

It will be a criminal offence to operate in the area without a licence. On conviction a landlord could be fined up to £20,000. It is also a criminal offence to breach the conditions of a licence. For each offence they could get a £5,000 fine.

How much will a licence cost?

The Licence Fee will be no more that £500 and you may also qualify for discounts if you:-

Are a member of a nationally recognised landlord association or scheme

Own an accredited property in the area of the scheme

Make multiple applications

Apply within the first six months of the scheme.

If you are not currently eligible for one of these discounts but would like to become eligible please contact the Selective Licensing Team for more details on 0191 2116102.

We will be in contact with you over the coming months to provide more information about the scheme and the application process.

Claire McMullen

Selective Licensing Team

Regulatory Services and Public Protection

If you need this information in another format or language, please phone: 0191 2116102 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Greater High Cross 2010 designation area