A NORTH-EAST politician and crime commissioner have taken their campaign for a private landlord register to a government minister.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson and Durham and Darlington’s Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg spoke with Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for housing and homelessness, Heather Wheeler MP, this week.

Mr Wilson said Ms Wheeler told the pair a register could be a “bureaucratic burden” on local authorities.

However, he said Mrs Wheeler and officials pledged to work with Durham County Council if its business case for a Selective Licensing scheme was successful. If accepted by government it would lead to mandatory licensing for all private landlords in the county.

Mr Hogg said: “This should make a significant difference to local people because it would mean that crime and anti-social behaviour should be reduced.

“One of the key reasons why they are sometimes hard to detect is that it is not always possible to identify who owns a property.”

He added: “I do hope that the minister and her officials recognise the need for this and support the business case when they receive it.”