Have your say now as consultation on Selective Licensing in East Marsh gets underway

Selective Licensing would mean that all private landlords must hold a valid licence before renting out a property. Landlords would need to ensure that their property is up to standard to meet their licence obligations.

North East Lincolnshire Council wants your views on the introduction of Selective Licensing within a designated area of the East Marsh, with the aim of improving housing standards in privately-rented homes, and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

The public consultation will run from today for 10 weeks, giving all interested parties the opportunity to give their views on the proposed scheme.

There are a variety of ways to take part in the consultation, including on-line questionnaires, face-to-face drop-in sessions, attending local community meetings and online events. These will take place between now and Monday April 7 2025 when the consultation will come to an end.

The creation of two Areas of Action is also being explored in parts of Sidney Sussex and Heneage Wards to motivate landlords in these areas to work more closely with the council to bring their properties up to standard.

Cllr Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “The areas where the council is considering implementing this scheme have significant problems. East Marsh is in the top 1% of most deprived wards in the country; life expectancy is the lowest in the borough, and the crime rate is the highest in the borough. 24.6% of people live in fuel poverty.

“East Marsh also has some of the highest concentrations of private rented accommodation, high levels of anti-social behaviour, poor property conditions, and frequent reports of nuisance noise and fly-tipping. Heneage Ward is in the top 1% of most deprived areas in the country and, in Sidney Sussex, 39.5% of households within the proposed Area of Action are experiencing household deprivation.

“We want to tackle these issues, but before we can introduce a licensing scheme we must show why we think this kind of scheme is needed, and what kind of problems it is trying to tackle,” he said.

Selective Licensing would give the council extra powers to take enforcement action against those landlords that do not comply, if necessary, through the courts. It would also include powers to punish poor landlords with large fines. Registered Social Landlords and their properties would be exempt from Selective Licensing.

Cllr Swinburn continued: “We would like to hear from anyone who would welcome and support the scheme or be affected by this proposal, including landlords, tenants, agents, members of the public, local businesses and professional bodies, such as the National Residential Landlord Association, Shelter (national homelessness charity), Humberside Police, Humberside Fire and Rescue and other key stakeholders.

“It is very important that we gather as many views as possible and that we consider these views, so I urge people to take part in this consultation so that we can get as clear a picture as possible.”

Cllr Nicola Aisthorpe, Chair of the Cabinet Working Party on Selective Licensing, said: “Whilst we acknowledge that there are many decent landlords out there providing good quality housing and support for their tenants, significant challenges persist in the private rented sector across parts of the borough, particularly in the East Marsh, Heneage, and Sidney Sussex wards, where many homes suffer from appalling conditions, such as severe damp, mould-infested walls, inadequate heating, and hazards that threaten tenants' safety.

“The plan to consult on the introduction of Selective Licensing is the result of months of collaboration by the cross-party working group and council officers, supported by detailed analysis and proven strategies from other successful schemes.

“The scheme aims to create a partnership between landlords, tenants, and the council to improve housing standards and provide better rental opportunities. It also seeks to address any harmful practices. Successful schemes in other areas have indicated that when landlords and Councils work together on schemes, housing conditions improve, crime and anti-social behaviour reduces and landlords have more sustainable and manageable tenancies, which in turn benefits the wider neighbourhood and community.

“With this consultation we are inviting residents, landlords and stakeholders to share their views and work together to shape a better future for our community.”

Full details about the proposal including fees, licence conditions and scheme boundaries can be found at www.nelincs.gov.uk/have-your-say. Here you can also have your say by answering questions and leaving comments. There are questions for each type of stakeholder together with a library of all the documents about the proposed schemes. A paper copy of the scheme can be provided upon request.

There will also be three individual consultation events taking place for residents, landlords, and neighbours and businesses who may be affected.

Consultation events will be held as follows:

Residents’ Drop-in Sessions, Face to Face:

Tuesday 11th February - St Johns, St Stephen & Shalom Church Centre, 226 Rutland Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN32 7LT. 1-7pm.

Tuesday 18th March - St Johns, St Stephen & Shalom Church Centre, 226, Rutland Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN32 7LT. 1-7pm.

On-line Session: Wednesday 12th February. 5.30-7pm. To join go to www.nelincs.gov.uk/have-your-say

Landlords’ Drop-in Sessions, Face to Face:

Friday 21st February - Bremerhaven Suite, Town Hall, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HU. 1-7pm.

Thursday 13th March - Doughty Learning Centre, Town Hall Street, Grimsby, DN31 1HX. 1-7pm.

On-line session: Monday 17th February, 5.30-7pm. To join go to www.nelincs.gov.uk/have-your-say

Neighbours and Businesses who may be affected:

On-line Session: Wednesday 19th February, 5.30-7pm. To join go to www.nelincs.gov.uk/have-your-say

Please note that online meetings will also be available as a recording on the Council’s website, so if you are unable to attend any of the sessions, you will be able to view this at a time when it is convenient for you.
For more information Email: selectivelicensing@nelincs.gov.uk