Hastings Borough Council is currently at the consultation stage over a new licensing plan for landlords in the town. The council say the scheme will reduce anti-social behaviour and encourage local landlords to take responsibility for their tenants. If the scheme gets the go-ahead, landlords will have to pay £415 per property for a license.
Improved Quality of Housing
The council thinks a licensing scheme is the best way to improve the quality of accommodation in the town.
“Our evidence suggests higher levels of antisocial behaviour are a feature where high density private renting exists within the town and that’s why we are considering the scheme,” says council leader, Jeremy Birch.
Unhappy Landlords
Landlords in the town are not happy about the proposed changes. Many believe that the only way they can afford the extra cost of a landlord licensing scheme is to put the rent up. The National Landlords Association agrees.
“This new scheme would be in addition to the existing licensing scheme in Hastings, so it’s another operational cost the landlords will have to foot,” says Tony Richard from the NLA.
“The council fails to understand that letting property is a business, so the unintended consequence is obvious.”
Housing charity, Generation Rent, disagrees. Clive Gross, representative from the charity believes that Hasting has become a ‘dumping ground’ for tenants. He thinks the licensing scheme is a good thing because it will help the council drive up the standard of local housing and reduce the number of rogue landlords who exploit their tenants.
