Town centre residents in Weymouth can expect a better deal from their landlords in future – if a new scheme to license them is finally approved.

The proposals will now go out for a ten-week public consultation.

If agreed by the new Dorset Council and introduced next year it should raise standards for those who live in private rented accommodation in most of the Melcombe Regis ward which includes town centre and Park district properties.

More than 900 may have to be registered and it could see landlords who have criminal records barred from managing properties with heavy fines for those who break the conditions of their license.

Cllr Dr Jon Orrell said he hoped it would end the illegal and indiscriminate behaviour towards tenants who complained. He said he had been told of people thrown out for asking for a broken window to be repaired and others kicked out for complaining about mould and damp – with frequent harassment for payments.

But he also said there were many good landlords who deserved the support and guidance the scheme could offer.

Dr Orrell asked the council to be mindful that many tenants might be reticent to take part in the consultation and some would be less articulate than landlords and their agents.

Councillors were told that the scheme would also help tackle anti-social behaviour and deprivation. People in the ward live, on average, ten years less than those in wealthier parts of the borough.

Officers from Salford, which currently runs several selective licensing areas, have been brought in to help introduce the Weymouth scheme.

Their environmental health officer, Rob Turner, told Tuesday's WPBC management committee that they had seen no evidence of landlords seeking to increase rents because of the schemes which, he said, only amounted to about £2 a week in additional costs. He said there had been a marked improvement in standards for tenants and better working practices from landlords.

Seafront resident Ken Whatley welcomed the licensing of landlords in the area which he said was long overdue but said he had already heard 'whispers' of how some landlords were planning to circumvent the rules.

“Some of the houses in the area are in such a state of disrepair. It's unbelievable,” he said.

Mr Turner said in Salford's 12 years of experience in running the schemes there had been only a few examples of non-compliance – and with the potential of fines of up to £30,000 few landlords were prepared to take the risk.

Cllr Ray Nowak said good landlords, of which there were many in the borough, would welcome the scheme. He said he hoped that if it was a success in the Melcombe Regis ward it could later be rolled out to other, neighbouring areas.

Various pics of Park District 

Could run as a separate panel -

Councillor Gill Taylor, Housing Briefholder at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, welcomed the committee decision: “It is called a selective scheme as it is at the discretion of the council. After the consultation it will need to go back to the council for debate, but it will effectively mean that all of the private rented accommodation in most of the Melcombe Regis ward will be subject to inspection.

“The aim of such a scheme is to help ensure that private rented housing is of a decent standard. We believe good landlords will support such a scheme as will tenants. The consultation will be available online shortly, please take the time to have your say and complete it.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council works with landlords to improve housing. Current schemes include ‘Heat Melcombe Regis’, which sees free central heating made available as well as other measures to tackle fuel poverty. The borough council also supports and works with landlords through the Landlords Local Authority Partnership.

More information on the council’s work with landlords is available here: dorsetforyou.gov.uk/housing/advice-for-landlords/landlord-local-authority-partnership.aspx