Agenda item

Officers brought the Selective Licensing Annual Report to the meeting for Members attention. They began by highlighting the areas covered and an overview over the type of housing in each area and other general information.

Area 1 Central Stockton –

An area of older, predominantly terraced housing. Selective Licensing was proposed on the basis this area is or is likely to become an area of low housing demand, has a high concentration of private rented properties (well above the national average) and is experiencing high levels of deprivation.

Area 2 North Thornaby –

An area of older, predominantly terraced housing. Selective Licensing was proposed on the basis that this area is or is likely to become an area of low housing demand, has a high concentration of private rented properties (well above the national average) and is experiencing high levels of deprivation.  

Area 3 Newton –

An area of older, predominantly terraced housing. Selective Licensing was proposed on the basis that this area is experiencing significant and persistent problems caused by high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, with high concentrations of private rented properties (well above the national average) and is experiencing high levels of deprivation.

The Selective Licensing Officers spoke about their year one priorities which were below.

•           Receiving and processing applications for licences.

•           Commencing inspections of Licensed properties.

•           Raising awareness of scheme with landlords, tenant and partners.

•           Developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders.

Regarding unlicensed properties Officers spoke about their pro-active approach to identifying licensable properties which did not have a duly made application. Information on unlicensed properties could come from a number of different sources such as community intelligence from residents and door knocking visits.

Address would be referred to SL Compliance officers for investigation with contact being made with the owner to encourage an application. There were over three hundred properties had been identified as potentially unlicensed, and investigations had been opened. 205 applications had been received as a result of these investigations.

Under the Selective Licensing scheme Officers may undertake compliance inspections of properties. Inspections began in December 2024 as soon as the first licence had been issued. Officers aimed to inspect all properties at least once with 243 inspections already carried out at the time of the meeting.

130 of those properties which had been inspected had been issued with improvement plans, 62 properties had improved, and investigations were closed and 92 investigations had been closed with no works required as the homes were of a good standard.

Offices informed members of how they had started to do Visual Audits of the Licensed areas. This consisted of regular patrols of the three selective licensing areas; 160 visual audits had been recorded by the team. During the Visual Audits Officers had made note of empty homes, identified licensed properties for targeted inspections, helped submit intelligence to the Police and intervened in cases of Anti-social behaviour.

Members asked if Officers were given any training on spotting abuse and safeguarding concerns. Officers confirmed that all Selective Licensing Officers had been trained in spotting signs of abuse and other safeguarding issues and would share intelligence with Social Services and Children’s Services when needed.

There had already been a significant amount of joint working between Licensing Officers and those partners involved with Operation Shield. Officers informed members of the how Officers had carried out targeted work to compliment Op Shield, a Day of Action had been organised and resulted in 19 inspections (Unlicensed HMO’s identified), 16 streets audited, 7 CFYA referrals, 4 new empty properties identified, 4 new unlicensed property investigations opened and 6 referrals to Community Safety following on street discussions with residents.

Members asked if there weren’t any current contact links between Selective Licensing Officers and Fire Services would that be implemented going forward? Officers would usually be in contact with the Fire Services on a case-by-case basis but would be open to having more regular contact.

AGREED to note the report.