NRLA says latest licensing scheme a ‘tax on good landlords’

Comments are made after latest claim that selective licensing is the answer to low standards and high crime in deprived areas, this time in Grimsby.

Cllr-Stewart-Swinburn landords

North East Lincolnshire Council is to introduce its selective licensing scheme into East Marsh, one of the country’s most deprived areas following a ten-week consultation, but has been criticised by the NRLA.

Stewart Swinburn (pictured), the council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, says: “We have listened to people in East Marsh, and they want better living conditions. They want to sleep safely in their beds and to not have to worry about poor housing conditions or high crime.

They want to sleep safely in their beds and to not have to worry about poor housing conditions or high crime.”

“Selective licensing will enable conditions for good and sustainable homes, allowing residents to live a healthy life.”

Chris Norris
Chris Norris, Policy Director, NRLA

But, according to the BBC, Chris Norris, Policy Director at the National Residential Landlords Association, says the selective licensing scheme “acts as a tax on good landlords” while “failing to address the rogue and criminal landlords who need to be driven out of the private rented sector”.

Mr Norris concedes that although it could “provide an effective way to deal with very specific issues across a small area”, it distracted from “rooting out those individuals who have no place in the rental market”.

Reduced supplies

“At a time when the private rented sector is experiencing an unprecedented shortfall in the number of available homes for rent, we urge councils to ensure they don’t take steps which will further reduce the supply of desperately needed homes,” he adds.

The scheme will cover the area from Durban Road to part of the A180 Cleethorpe Road, and from Victor Street to Park Street.

Cooper Road, Fairmont Road and Columbia Road have been removed from the scheme following the consultation.


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