It’s the last chance this week for people to have their say on a new licensing scheme for housing rented out by private landlords being proposed by Nottingham City Council to raise standards.

Consultation on the Selective Licensing scheme for private rented housing runs until this Friday, 31 March. The scheme would require private landlords to obtain a license demonstrating that they and their properties meet required quality and safety standards.

A proposed one-off fee of £600 – or £460 if a landlord applies for free Unipol or DASH accreditation – covering the five years of the scheme would effectively cost as little as £1.77 a week. The licence fee may also be tax-deductible, reducing the cost to landlords still further.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing said: “The latest English Housing Survey shows that 28% of privately rented properties fail to meet the Government’s Decent Homes standard. This suggests that, in Nottingham, as many as 10,000 properties rented by private landlords could potentially be sub-standard.

“The national survey also shows that increasing numbers of people, particularly families with children, are now renting from a private landlord rather than buying a house or flat, so it’s more important than ever that we as a council do all we can to ensure properties are of a decent quality and safe to live in.”

To have your say on the proposals before the consultation ends on Friday, a survey can be completed at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/qualityhousingforall