Please select your tenure

Owner occupier

Overall would you say that private rented landlords act responsibly in letting, managing and maintaining their properties?

Negative

Which licensing schemes do you agree with?

Additional Licensing

Do you think that the licensing scheme will improve the private rented sector?

Yes

Do you agree issuing a 1-year licence (rather than a 5-year licence) might be appropriate for non-compliant landlords

Agree

In your opinion, what impact will licensing have? (select all that apply)

• Allow council to hold landlords accountable

• Provide safe homes for tenants

• Improve housing conditions

• Reduce neighbourhood anti-social behaviour

• Improve residents understanding of rights

• Reduce flytipping and rubbish

• Reduce problems of noise

• Improve management standards

• Reduce crime

Please select your tenure

Owner occupier

Overall would you say that private rented landlords act responsibly in letting, managing and maintaining their properties?

Neutral

Which licensing schemes do you agree with?

None

Do you think that the licensing scheme will improve the private rented sector?

No

Do you agree issuing a 1-year licence (rather than a 5-year licence) might be appropriate for non-compliant landlords

Disagree

In your opinion, what impact will licensing have? (select all that apply)

• No improvement to property management

• May increase rent

• Unlikely to have positive impact

• No improvement to environment

Do you have any further comments on the impact of licensing on the management and condition of private rented properties?

Most of the licensing conditions are already covered by Acts of Parliament and are enforceable by the Council. However, at least one of the conditions (10) is considered to be unlawful (reference Brown v Hyndburn Council) and should be removed. The proposed licence fees cannot be justified. The Council says that fees will be Ring Fenced to enable the scheme to be self-financing with no financial benefit to the Council. It fails to point out that the present costs of inspection, investigation and enforcement will be passed on to the licensing scheme, with considerable financial benefit to the council. In other words present enforcement costs to deal with rogue landlords will in future be borne by responsible law abiding landlords. These proposals will in no way deal with the many problems of poor housing, anti social behavior and litter in the Public Sector. Having regard to the Government review into HHSRS and Selective Licensing currently taking place, and the fact that with only one hour to go before the consultation period ends, the Council has only managed to draw on line comments from 49 of the 18,500 tenants who will be affected by the proposals. and the total number of on line comments to date from all interested parties is 558, the Council should accept that this consultation has been unsuccessful and untimely and the Landlord Licensing proposals should be withdrawn.

Do you have any suggestions on how we can improve the licensing scheme or alternative action that can be taken to improve the private rented sector?

The announcement this weekend by Communities Secretary James Brokenshire that all landlords will be legally required to join a national landlord redress scheme means that Selective Licensing is no longer necessary. Rogue Landlords should be severely dealt with by strict enforcement while good, law abiding landlords should be encouraged and supported.

Please select your tenure

Owner occupier

Overall would you say that private rented landlords act responsibly in letting, managing and maintaining their properties?

Positive

Which licensing schemes do you agree with?

None

Do you think that the licensing scheme will improve the private rented sector?

No

Do you agree issuing a 1-year licence (rather than a 5-year licence) might be appropriate for non-compliant landlords

Neither agree or disagree

Do you have any further comments on the impact of licensing on the management and condition of private rented properties?

I worked for a medium sized RSL for many years so am very familiar with the impact ASB, fly tipping, and poorly maintained and managed properties has on neighborhoods, but I do not agree with the two proposals outlined. Legislation already exists to deal with these problems without introducing new licensing schemes, but it costs money to pursue rogue landlords and agents. The schemes proposed are just a way for the council to pay for doing what they should be doing anyway but don’t, and as is often the case the responsible majority will end paying for the inactions of the irresponsible minority. Council Officers know who the poor landlords are (or can easily identify them if needed) so why not tackle them properly so that the message gets out that high standards of property maintenance and management are expected in Newcastle and that those not on board with this can expect to be brought to account? If these schemes do go ahead, I am not confident that the council would be any more effective in dealing with these kinds of problems than they are at present. However, I’m sure the fees will be very welcome at the Civic Centre.

Do you have any suggestions on how we can improve the licensing scheme or alternative action that can be taken to improve the private rented sector?

Do your job!

Overall would you say that private rented landlords act responsibly in letting, managing and maintaining their properties?

Mostly negative

Do you have any suggestions on how we can improve the licensing scheme or alternative action that can be taken to improve the private rented sector?

I have commented elsewhere but found the website confusing. The boundaries of the scheme seem a little arbitrary. For example, I live in Heaton but am aware that many houses on the north side of the coast road est of the corner house, which were sold under RTB, are now rented out in the private sector. This needs to be kept under control too.

Please select your tenure

Owner occupier

Overall would you say that private rented landlords act responsibly in letting, managing and maintaining their properties?

Mostly negative

Which licensing schemes do you agree with?

Both

Do you think that the licensing scheme will improve the private rented sector?

Yes

Do you agree issuing a 1-year licence (rather than a 5-year licence) might be appropriate for non-compliant landlords

Agree

In your opinion, what impact will licensing have? (select all that apply)

• May increase rent

• Allow council to hold landlords accountable

• Improve housing conditions

• Improve management standards

Do you have any further comments on the impact of licensing on the management and condition of private rented properties?

Licensing needs to be backed up by stronger primary legislation to tackle poor maintenance of rented homes, and the accompanying negative impact on the external environment.

Do you have any suggestions on how we can improve the licensing scheme or alternative action that can be taken to improve the private rented sector?

I don’t think a landlord should have to pay for a five year licence, unless they are going to get a rebate should they chose to sell.