A long-running scheme to tackle rogue landlords and reduce anti-social behaviour in parts of Newcastle has been renewed for another five years.

Newcastle City Council has confirmed that selective licensing will continue in Byker Old Town and the Greater High Cross area of Benwell. Private landlords operating there must hold a £1,000 licence and meet set standards covering property conditions and the way tenancies are managed.

The scheme has been in place for 15 years and will now run until September 2031.

Apparently councillors were told it has helped raise housing standards, although levels of anti-social behaviour in the two neighbourhoods remain above the city average.

The licensing requirements cover 533 privately rented properties in Byker Old Town and a further 325 in Greater High Cross.

Under the scheme, landlords must ensure properties are maintained in a safe condition and take steps to prevent and address anti-social behaviour, with the risk of prosecution for non-compliance.

During consultation on the proposed extension, some landlords expressed concerns about the cost of the licences, with many describing the scheme as an additional financial burden with limited demonstrable benefit, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Meanwhile, tenants who responded to the consultation uncertainty or reported no noticeable impact” from the scheme, a council report stated.