Gedling Borough Council has announced that it is relaunching a scheme that it says offers them powers to make privately rented homes better for people to live in.

The selective licensing will make it mandatory for landlords to have licences for each of their private rented properties.

The scheme was successfully launched in 2018 in Netherfield, and was expanded to Colwick, Carlton Hill, Daybrook and Newstead Village in November 2022. The Netherfield scheme ended in September 2023 and, following a consultation, the council is re-designating the ward as a selective licensing area again.

The new designation covering Netherfield begins on the 5 January 2025 and will run until 4 January 2030. The council is now accepting applications, which can be submitted online through the selective licensing page on the council’s website.

The licence requires that licence holders manage their properties effectively and safely. The council will work with landlords and residents to improve the area but where necessary use the licensing conditions and enforcement powers to bring about improvements.

Selective licensing can be applied in areas where there is deprivation, high levels of antisocial behaviour, high levels of crime, high levels of migration and poor housing conditions. The licensing gives the council’s environmental health team powers to do more when landlords are not taking steps to deal with issues relating to property standards and management.

The scheme, which ran from 2018 – 2023 in Netherfield, was a success with 662 landlords applying for a licence.

Over 81% of properties inspected by the council were found to contain hazards that required work to protect the health and safety of the tenant.

Some 52 properties inspected had imminent hazards around areas such as fire safety and inadequate fire protection or detection, which all required immediate action.

Gedling Borough Council says that the scheme also improved its working relationship with Nottinghamshire Police to reduce anti-social behaviour and make residents feel safer where they live. Civil penalty notices have been issued in relation to twenty-two properties for failing to apply for a licence.

Cllr John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, said: “This scheme is being brought back into Netherfield following a real successful period where we saw some incredible improvements to living standards.

“Selective licensing reduces hazards, makes homes safer and helps landlords to ensure private properties are being well managed and maintained.

“We carried out a consultation with landlords and we have taken their comments and feedback into consideration. We helped over dozens of residents with improvements, and we are confident that the scheme will be a success again.”