PROPERTY owners who rent them out are being encouraged to voice their concerns over a new licensing scheme.

It is being proposed by Brighton and Hove City Council and would require landlords to buy licences for homes they let out.

Now the National Landlords Association (NLA) is urging landowners in the city to attend a free forum to discuss the proposal.

Mark Brockhurst, NLA representative for the South East, said: “If passed, the proposed scheme will affect all landlords in Brighton, regardless of portfolio size.

“Licensing schemes can have a significant impact on landlords and tenants so it’s vital people are aware of the proposals and how they can be affected by them.”

Licensing schemes can be introduced as a means to improve the standard of private rented properties, if the area has problems with low housing demand, antisocial behaviour and crime.

The council’s plan includes placing limitations on the number of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) allowed in the city.

Tracey Hill, councillor for Hollingdean and Stanmer ward, said: “Brighton and Hove has a high number of houses of multiple occupation.

“This is due to a combination of factors including student numbers, high numbers of young people who move around frequently and high rents, which mean that for many people a shared house is the only affordable way to live here.

“The management of HMOs in our city is a business, sometimes big business, and in our view should be taxed as such, just like shops, pubs, hotels and guest houses, all of which are subject to business rates.

“The Government has indicated through the Housing and Planning Act that it is on board with a better managed private rented housing sector and our proposal fits with this overall ambition to professionalise the buy-to-let world.”

Mr Brockhurst said: “We hope that this meeting will help landlords in the area stay informed and updated.

“It will also provide an opportunity to ask questions, discuss the implications of the scheme and to plan accordingly.”

The free forum is on Wednesday.

It will take place at the Brighton Hilton Metropole Hotel in King’s Road.

Visitors are advised to arrive at 6pm for a 6.30pm start and it will finish at 9pm.

People should book in advance via landlords.org.uk/.