Selective licensing being considered in Weymouth

People in Weymouth are being invited to have their say on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s plans to introduce selective licensing laws for private landlords who own private rented accommodation in most of the Melcombe Regis ward which includes town centre and Park district properties.

The proposals, which will now go out for a ten-week public consultation, is part of the council’s plan to tackle poor property conditions and management practices in areas with high levels of private rented accommodation.

A recent report by the Melcombe Regis Board identified a high proportion of property in the private rented sector that are in a poor state, while there are also growing concerns about anti-social behaviour.

Hundreds of BTL landlords may have to be registered and it has been proposed that landlords who have criminal records could be barred from managing properties, with heavy fines handed out to those who break the conditions of their license.

Cllr Gill Taylor, housing brief holder at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “It is called a selective scheme as it is at the discretion of the council. After the consultation it will need to go back to the council for debate, but it will effectively mean that all of the private rented accommodation in most of the Melcombe Regis ward will be subject to inspection.

“The aim of such a scheme is to help ensure that private rented housing is of a decent standard. We believe good landlords will support such a scheme as will tenants. The consultation will be available online shortly, please take the time to have your say and complete it.”

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