Labour councillors in Rotherham are set to extend the ‘Selective Licensing’ scheme into more communities across our borough. Selective Licensing imposes certain standards on private landlords over the properties they rent out to tenants. This scheme is now set to be rolled out into areas of Parkgate and Thurcroft.

Under this licensing arrangement, private landlords in the areas affected will need to acquire a licence for any of their rented homes and meet any obligations set up out in the licence. Landlords can be required to make sure they provide safe living conditions, secure properties and tackle any anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Dominic Beck, Labour’s Cabinet Member for Housing at Rotherham Council, has said:

“Selective licensing improves the standard of housing for entire neighbourhoods. It leads to more reliable, longer term tenancies; higher quality and safer housing standards; reduced levels of homelessness; and increased property and rent values which in turn helps create greater community cohesion.”

These licences have previously been rolled out in areas of Eastwood, Dinnginton, Masborough and Maltby and it has enjoyed great success. It is now proposed to extended these rules into parts of Parkgate and Thurcroft where over 400 private properties could be regulated under this scheme.

Labour’s Cllr Bob Bird, who represents Rawmarsh and Parkgate, welcomed these proposals and has said: “I support these measures being extended by the Council as local residents renting in the private sector in Parkgate will see their housing conditions improved and protected.”

Labour’s Cllr Amy Brookes and Cllr Bob Walsh, who represent Thurcroft in Rother Vale ward, also support the extension of this scheme: “By extending the licensing scheme, we’re in a better position to improve the quality of private rented homes across the borough. We’re delighted that Thurcroft in our ward will soon benefit from this scheme where many residents rely on private sector housing.”

The plans to extended the Selective Licensing scheme into Parkgate and Thurcroft will be voted on by the Labour Cabinet at Rotherham Council in their next meeting on Monday 10 June. Labour councillors are determined to improve the quality of private rented homes where so many residents rely on their housing across the borough.