A local authority has extended its consultation process for a selective licensing system which, if it goes ahead, would see some 51,000 properties licensed.

The County Durham scheme would cover up to 65 per cent of the area’s private rented sector, and comes with the customary local authority claims that such a scheme would improve conditions of tenants and reduce anti-social behaviour.

Now, however, the authority has extended the consultation deadline until August 2.

“Due to the disruption caused by Coronavirus, we have had to cancel many of our planned public consultation events for both residents and landlords” says Stuart Timmiss, the council’s head of development and housing.

“We have extended the consultation period and added virtual meetings and telephone call-backs to allow as many members of the community as possible to have their say on the proposed changes.”

Private landlords and letting agents are also invited to have their say at two webinars, being held today and Wednesday.