A council enquiry is proposing a flurry of new landlord licensing schemes in one county in England. 

An inquiry into the private rental sector in Cornwall started in 2019 and its recommendations, just released, include possible licensing schemes covering Penzance, Newquay, Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Falmouth and Penryn.

The council will also lobby the government to make three-year tenancies standard, “to give tenants more security.”

A spokesperson for the authority says: “Cornwall’s private rented sector continues to grow and currently covers 37,500 properties – around 18 per cent of all housing in Cornwall.

“The inquiry panel clearly believed that the use of discretionary powers in the form of selective and additional licensing for several areas would give an opportunity to bring about significant improvements in privately rented homes, helping those living in poor quality accommodation at a scale not seen before in Cornwall.”

Cornwall councillor Cornelius Olivier, who chaired the inquiry, says: “We were also mindful of the effect that poor housing has in a wider sense, such as on people’s health and protecting children from harm as the numbers of children living in the private rental sector is known to have risen dramatically over recent years.”

The panel was told that around 50 per cent of Cornwall’s privately rented housing is concentrated in its 20 largest towns and is a larger sector than social renting.

It also heard that more children now live in privately rented homes than live in socially rented or owner-occupied homes – and that housing costs are higher.

A statement from the council says: “At a time when pandemic-related restrictions are fully lifted and society is in a more settled state, the council will look to consult fully with all those who could be affected by further landlord licensing and will invite them for their views in due course before any decisions are made.”