Telford and Wrekin are proposing to introduce a Selective Licensing scheme in parts of the Borough later this year.

The five year scheme would require all private sector landlords in parts of Hadley and Leegomery, Malinslee and Hollinswood, Brookside and Sutton Hill and Woodside to apply for a licence. This would cost £610 in total (£860 for late applications) per property for the duration of the 5 year scheme. There would also be an option to spread payments.

Cllr Hilda Rhodes, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Safety and Enforcement, said: “We want people to be proud of where they live and where they own a property. We want to encourage landlords and their tenants to make it their responsibility to work with us to improve the environment.

“Through this scheme we want to weed out the bad landlords and tenants, protect the good ones and improve the quality of life for them and their neighbours.

“We want to work with landlords and help them increase standards. In return for the licence fee, we will provide them with advice, guidance and the tools and resources they need in order to better manage their properties and their tenants. Within the proposed scheme there are legal penalties for those who don’t play their part, but this would be a last resort.”

If the scheme gets implemented landlords would be required to comply with a set of licence conditions which include maintaining the property to a good standard, making sure tenants provide references and when tenants move on making sure the property is secure, clean and ready for the next tenant in order to avoid concerns such as fly tipping.  

According to the council all of the areas proposed have rates of housing disrepair, a high turnover of tenants and some of the highest rates of anti social behaviour such as fly tipping.

Telford & Wrekin Council plan to consult landlords, tenants and other interested parties and get their views on the proposed scheme. The consultation is due to begin in April and run for ten weeks.