Boston council in Lincolnshire - which last year rejected the idea of compulsory landlord licensing - is continuing with its own scheme rooting out rogue landlords after a successful first year.
The council's Rogue Landlord Project was launched last year using £109,000 of government funding; landlords had previously objected to a licensing proposal which would have cost owners £450 per property.
The council's alternative has a hotline number for callers - 01205 314333 - who are asked to record their concerns about a property, landlord or letting agent in the borough. They will need to give the address of the property, an account of the issues and, if known, the name of the landlord. Callers do not need to leave their own details, but if they chose to, it will be kept strictly confidential.
Now Boston councillors have voted to use the authority's own funding to maintain the system, despite government cash having run out, because of the success in the past year.
Some 199 properties were inspected in the 12 months to the end of January 2015. A total of 245 notices hwere served:
- 132 notices for power of entry
- 80 formal requests for information
- 9 demands for payment
- 8 improvement notices
- 8 hazard awareness notices
- 3 prohibition notices
- 2 emergency remedial notices
- 2 environmental protection notices
- 1 temporary exemption notice.
A council spokesman described the non-licensing scheme as "a deterrent.
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