Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure safe and quality housing for all residents. Property Licensing Schemes (PLS) are intended to raise standards in the private rented sector, making landlords more accountable and improving property management.
We have three types of property licensing in Newcastle; Selective licencing, Mandatory HMO licensing and Additional HMO licensing.
What is Selective Licensing?
All private rented properties within a selective licensing area require a licence unless otherwise exempt.
What is Mandatory HMO Licensing?
Mandatory HMO licensing applies to all HMO’s having five or more occupants living in two or more households who share facilities i.e. kitchen, bathroom. All such properties require a licence. Mandatory HMO licensing is a requirement throughout England.
What is Additional Licensing?
The Housing Act 2004 allows Local Authorities to introduce a scheme to licence landlords of private rented homes within designated areas where there is a significant proportion of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s) in the area being manged sufficiently ineffectively as to give rise to one or more particular problems either for the occupiers of the HMO’s or members of the public.
The aim of the licensing scheme is to improve the management of these properties to ensure that they have a positive impact on the area.
The proposed Newcastle scheme is based on the evidence that there is a significant or persistent problem caused by anti-social behaviour and deprivation.