Letting agents and their landlord clients are to face more compliance duties in the Norfolk seaside town of Great Yarmouth if plans revealed by its local council are voted through next week.

Its private rented sector team wants to introduce an expanded scheme in three wards for the usual five-year duration, starting next year, and up from the single ward its previous scheme covered until December last year.

If approved, the scheme will then move to a consultation period, which would cover 5,000 rented homes representing 60% of the town’s rented homes and cost landlords £784 for each property.

This would include the wards of Nelson; Cobholm and Southtown; and its Central and Northgate wards and be introduced next year.

Managed properly

”If introduced, selective licensing would help us improve housing standards in privately rented accommodation and ensure properties are managed properly,” says Councillor Paul Wells of Great Yarmouth Borough Council (main image).

”Generally, we have responsible landlords, but not everyone has a home that is safe, warm and good quality. This scheme would mean landlords must comply with several licence conditions.

”We know some privately rented properties are in a poor condition and we are determined to try to improve standards. Bad housing has a detrimental impact on the lives of people and our residents deserve better where there are problems.”

The proposals follow a previous selective licensing scheme covering most of Nelson Ward that was in place between 2019 and 2024 which regulated more than 1,500 privately rented homes.

“Most landlords are good ones, and want to provide good-quality homes, but sadly not all are.

The council says this scheme led to ‘considerable improvements’ and, working with landlords, the council helped them understand their responsibilities and what good property management looks like.

“Most landlords are good ones, and want to provide good-quality homes, but sadly not all are. It is not acceptable that they get away with providing sub-standard accommodation for the people of the borough,” says Councillor Wells.

”We already have some powers related to housing, but 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 most 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.”

Read more about selective licensing.