Another council is consulting on introducing a selective licensing scheme – and again it claims it will “create better housing for residents.”

County Durham local authority wants selective licensing across the county “which would ensure good standards of private rental properties” and “reduce anti-social behaviour.”

The scheme would apply to approximately 51,000 properties in areas where there is low demand, or where there is a significant or persistent problem caused by anti-social behaviour, poor property conditions, or high levels of migration, deprivation or crime.

Landlords would need to apply for a licence for each residential property they rent out in a designated area, and show they have adequate management arrangements in place. A licence will last for five years.

Consultation is going on until the end of Monday April 27.