COUNCILLORS in Ryedale will this week be asked to support penalising landlords who fail to look after their properties.
Ryedale District Council is considering billing owners of private rented properties £45 an hour, up to a maximum of £300, whenever it serves a housing enforcement notice.
Officers have said it would bring the authority into line with neighbouring councils such as York and Selby.
A report, which will go before a meeting of the council on Thursday, said the authority can step in and order landlords who fail to maintain their properties to carry out the necessary work, and the level of the charge would depend on the amount of time officers spend preparing an enforcement case and serving the notice.
It said the system would be designed to act as an incentive for landlords to ensure their properties did not fall into disrepair, and it will come into force on April 1 if approved.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here