Durham County Council has bought in a new scheme to regulate landlords and managing agents of private rented property in selected areas of County Durham. The scheme covers approximately 29,000 homes which is over 40% of the properties in the county’s private rented sector. This came into place on 1st April 2022.
The aim of the selective licencing is to:
These principles are in line with ours at Ready to Let and Ready to Rent Management. Since we set up the business 5 years ago we have been buying properties in County Durham which have been left to get run down and are in a poor condition and refurbishing them to a standard which exceeds the Durham Decent Homes Standard, improving the desirability of the properties and the neighbourhoods and homing approximately 10 families in superior homes per month.
You and anyone else involved in the management of the property (for example, a manager or managing agent) must show they a 'fit and proper person'. This means they will be assessed for any:
Our management agency, Ready to Rent Management is already a member of Durham County Councils' Private Landlord Accreditation Scheme and all of our properties are refurbished to the minimum of the Durham Decent Home Standard. We will provide you all the documents and information that you will need to apply for the selective licence.
Click on the following link -Selective licensing postcode checker
Discounts are available if:
The licence fee is £500 per property and is payable in two parts, the first on application and the second when the licence is granted.
If you are the licence holder and:
Click on the folliwng Link - https://propertylicensing.durham.gov.uk/
Click on the following link - Selective Licensing Conditions
It is an offence to let a property within a selective licensing area without a licence. You could face prosecution and an unlimited fine, or a civil fine of up to £30,000 if they fail to obtain a licence or breach of the conditions of the licence.
If we are unable to grant a licence, or have to remove a licence, Durham County Council may take over the management of the property. A licence can be refused for a property if you do not meet the fit and proper person criteria or cannot demonstrate you have adequate management arrangements in place.
An application for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) may also be made which, if granted, will require you to pay back up to 12 months rental income from the property.
You can appeal through Gov.uk: Solve a residential property dispute within 28 days if they disagree with any of Durham County Council decisions.
Licensing exemptions include:
The proposals for a new scheme were put forward on 16 September 2020 and the Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities approved them on 30 November 2021, however the details of the scheme have only been made available recently and application process for the licences has only just opened up.
For More information please give us a call on 01483 663001 or see https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/2882/Selective-licensing-of-privately-rented-properties