Selective Licensing Scheme Evaluation, re-designated Area Central Bensham

Total service requests

The graph above shows the total number of complaints received to the team including property standards, ASB, noise, neighbour issues and disputes. As expected, there was an increase in the number of complaints received on designation of the scheme in 2018, and this is a trend that has been replicated in previous licensing schemes. 

This is predominately because residents renting in the licensing area have met officers from the licensing team during their tenant meeting and property inspection and now know who to complain to. 

In 2019 the number of overall complaints reduced in the second year of the scheme by 61% and this trend has been noted in previous schemes and mainly due to the intense work being carried out in the area. 

The data shows that the overall complaints increased dramatically by 65% which was during the period of the COVID pandemic when the country was subjected to a national lockdown. This increase followed all complaints made to the Private Sector Housing Team across the borough as well as the licensing area. 
The data shows there was a reduction in demand after the pandemic, and this reduced steadily throughout the remainder of the licensing scheme. Disappointingly, since the scheme has finished the demand on the team has increased by 63%. This increase in demand shows there are still instabilities within the area as the demand is still significant post licensing scheme. 

Service requests - housing standards and property disrepair

The graph above shows the number of complaints received to the licensing team regarding disrepair and property standards throughout the five years of the licensing scheme. As expected, the number of complaints received by the team reduced significantly by 50% as property standards were being improved through the programmed inspection regime. 

The complaints received to the team remained lower than pre-scheme figures until 2021 when there was an increase of 47% on the demand regarding property standards within the private rented sector. This increase was attributed to landlords only responding to emergency repairs during the Covid national lockdown and routine maintenance was not addressed in the usual timescales. However, it is disappointing that after five years of licensing there is still a significant demand on the team regarding complaints about property standards from tenants in their rental properties. The rate of complaints received to the team post scheme is at 43%. 

Service requests - noise

The graph below includes noise complaints received from house alarms, barking dogs, people noise, music/television, and parties. As expected, there was an increase in noise complaints made to the team on designation of the scheme in 2013. This trend was replicated in previous schemes as occupants know who to complain to as they have met the licensing team during their tenant meeting and property inspection. 

Within 2019, the second year of the scheme the rate of complaints reduced by 62% to approximately pre-scheme complaints. 

However, there was a significant increase in complaints during the national lockdown in 2020, and this was expected as residents had to remain in their homes. The increase in complaints was exacerbated during this time especially between ground and first floor Tyneside Flats due to the transfer of noise. It is noted that post-licensing scheme complaints are still 20% greater than noise complaints pre-licensing scheme. 

This indicates that there are still noise related issues within the area and the residents are still engaging with the licensing team for support.

Service requests - Anti-Social Behaviour

The graph above includes all anti-social behaviour complaints received from shouting and swearing, drunken behaviour, fighting and arguments within properties, drug use, sale of drugs from properties, properties being used as brothels and fly tipping. The data shows this trend was noted on previous licensing schemes and that complaints increased in the designated area following property inspections and tenant meetings. 

This is mainly as the tenants are confident to make complaints after having their tenant meeting and are aware that certain behaviours should not be tolerated within their neighbourhood. 

As with previous data sets within this scheme, the complaints reduced in 2019 in the second year of the scheme. However, there was a vast increase on the demand following the Covid national lockdown and this was noted across the borough. The number of complaints increased by 50% in 2020 from the 2018 figures when the scheme was designated. Interestingly, there was a 77% reduction in the number of complaints in 2021 following the lifting of the restrictions and the licensing team were very visible again in the area. The data reflects this, and the complaints remained relatively low for the remainder of the scheme. 

However, the number of complaints post-licensing scheme has risen by 71% from the previous year's figures, and this suggests that there is still the demand from the residents and occupants in the area regarding ASB complaints.