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Residents’ associations and tenants from Sedgefield, County Durham, are calling for a compulsory landlord registration scheme to be implemented in the hope that it will reduce the number of instances of anti social behaviour, noise, drug abuse and mess caused by a small minority of tenants.
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Locals Petition the Government
Sedgefield Residents’ Federation is petitioning the government to force landlords to sign up for accreditation schemes. Members of the federation, which is made up of several different residents’ associations and community groups in the local area, are fed up with rogue landlords failing to manage their properties. One example cited by Ken Robson, chairman of Newton Aycliffe Residents’ Association, is of a house used as a cannabis farm, which became a magnet for local thugs and blighted the lives of those living nearby.
“We know the majority of tenants are law abiding people but the bad apples can make people’s lives a misery,” said Mr Robson.
Calls for Compulsory Landlord Accreditation
Some parts of County Durham have already been hallmarked for selective licensing and landlords who don’t bother applying for a license face stiff fines. If the scheme is deemed to be successful, the local council are expected to extend it to the whole of County Durham. However, local residents’ associations are concerned that Selective Licensing is not enough. They want compulsory accreditation to force landlords to manage their properties properly and are calling upon other residents groups to support their campaign.
Around 16% of homes in the local area are owned and operated by private landlords.
