Major changes to private sector housing licences are due to be brought in from 6 April 2020 and many private landlords could still be unaware of the changes.

The new Additional and Selective Licensing legislation is being brought in by Newcastle City Council to run alongside the existing Mandatory House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing that already runs countrywide. The intention of the new legislation is to improve the quality of private rental properties in Newcastle and reduce anti-social behaviour.

All landlords will be required to hold the new appropriate licences for their rental properties in the city, a move which should help to crack down on rogue landlords and poorly maintained properties.

The licences will ensure that properties are maintained to a certain standard and meet the required safety regulations, which is sure to be welcome news for renters.

The new Additional and Selective Licences are being brought in to ensure that the standard of private rental stock in Newcastle remains high. Here at Tyneside Group and Tyneside Lettings, we wholeheartedly support measures which will ultimately improve the condition of housing for renters, helping to ensure that people enjoy the highest quality rental accommodation.

As more and more people choose to rent, including students, professionals and families, it’s imperative that we encourage the very best standards from both landlords and letting agents. We know that many landlords across the city will be completely unaware of the new licences and could risk a hefty fine for non-compliance.

We’d encourage landlords with a small portfolio to find out more as soon as possible to ensure they’re fully up to speed with the new changes before they come into play this April. If you need any support or advice, please get in touch with our friendly team.

According to the city council, Additional Licensing and Selective Licensing will cover approximately 18,000 private rental properties in Newcastle.

As you may know, traditionally the lettings sector has suffered from a poor reputation – mainly due to unscrupulous landlords and rogue agents, which of course has a detrimental effect. Thankfully we believe as an industry we’re moving away from this tarnished image, which can only be a good thing for the many professional landlords and agents operating across the North East. 

At Tyneside Group, we want to see more professionalism across the sector, so we’re pleased enhanced regulations will see housing stock improvements across the board. As you’d expect, we’ve been communicating the changes to our clients, ensuring the properties we let on their behalf have all of the appropriate licences in place.