A new licensing scheme for private rented homes is now in place in four wards in Brighton.

The selective licensing scheme covers properties that have one or two people living in them, or a family, as well as single-storey flats or bungalows with three or four unrelated residents.

Properties with more than one floor, with three or more unrelated occupiers, are already covered by the city-wide HMO licensing schemes.

Around 2,100 properties across Kemp Town, Moulsecoomb and Bevendean, Queen’s Park and Whitehawk and Marina wards are affected.

Brighton and Hove City Council said these are areas where there is a clear link between poor property conditions and private rented homes.

The new scheme, which was agreed at the housing and new homes committee in March, means property owners and managing agents now need to complete the selective licensing application form on the council’s website.

They must also pay either a standard fee of £690, or the increased fee of £783 if the council has to prompt the property owner if it finds they should have a licence but have not yet applied.

Subject to approval by the Secretary of State, the council is also proposing the introduction of a second stage of the selective licensing scheme to cover 13 wards on the grounds of poor property conditions.

Cllr Gill Williams, chairwoman of the housing and new homes committee, said: “Improving homes across the city is a key part of our plan for a better Brighton and Hove.

“Too often we hear from residents in private rental accommodation about their poor experiences – introducing licensing in these four wards will allow us to raise standards.

“We’ve already seen the benefits property licensing brings for better managed and safer homes. It can also benefit landlords by putting us in a better position to help them improve and maintain their properties.

“We also know we have work to do ourselves to improve the safety and quality of council-rented homes – and we have increased investment to achieve that.”