In an area where Selective Licensing operates, all landlords in that area MUST hold a licence. Benefits of the scheme:
- health, safety and welfare of the community are protected
- landlords maintain their property and correct any deficiencies that may exist
- reduce anti-social behaviour
- prevent neighbourhood blight and conditions that can result from lack of care
- ensure that minimum housing standards are met
- educate landlords and tenants of acceptable private rented standards
The council’s proposal is to operate Selective Licensing in the East Marsh and the West Marsh of Grimsby.
This will potentially have a very significant impact on our East Marsh – all of the things EMU have been trying to change will, in theory at least, be changed as a result of this scheme – disgusting housing conditions with dirt and damp, the furniture of tentnats left in houses when new tenants wish to move in, wheelie bins on the fronts, filthy and rubbish-strewn back gardens and back alleys. All of this could disappear, creativing a massive change in the environment in our neighbourhood!
That’s why East Marsh United are FULLY behind the council’s desire to make this a reality – and it could possibly happen as soon as October this year.
But…
It hasn’t been made law yet and there is a consultation period currently in process. Therefore, it is REALLY important that you have your say. There is an association of landlords that speaks for landlords’ interests – my best guess is that they are not especially happy at the prospect of landlords having to pay a fee for their licence (around £500 for five years, I think – and remember that there are good landlords around and they will benefit from such a scheme). So, the landlords are organised and may well wish to not see this happen – therefore, to make a real difference to the East Marsh and the West Marsh, make sure you HAVE YOUR SAY in the consultation – this is really important!
How to have your say on Selective Licensing
Drop-in sessions
Drop-in sessions for tenants and the public will be held on:
- Wednesday 29th January from 9am to 7.30pm at West Marsh Community Centre;
- Thursday 30th January from 9am to 5pm at Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre;
- Wednesday 5th February from 5pm to 7.30pm at Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre
Drop-in sessions for landlords will be held on:
- Tuesday 21st January from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at Grimsby Town Hall;
- Monday 27th January from 9am to 5pm at Grimsby Town Hall
Online
The consultation is available to complete on the Council’s website at https://residents.questionpro.eu/ (here’s the main website if the link doesn’t work – click on ‘Selective Licensing’ www.nelincs.gov.uk/have-your-say ).
Pick up paper copies from libraries and Council Access Points
Paper copies of the consultation can be completed in Lincs Inspire Libraries and the Council’s Customer Access Point in Grimsby and Immingham
The consultation opened on Thursday 16 January 2020 and will continue for 10 weeks, ending on Thursday 26 March 2020.
