HOMEOWNERS have backed a scheme to impose stricter legislation on private landlords after witnessing the decline of their neighbourhoods.

Councillors are expected to approve plans for a selective licensing initiative in two Tunstall streets to stop landlords leaving their properties to rot and allowing nuisance tenants to move in.

The pilot scheme would be rolled out in both Bond Street and Pinnox Street after officials said the two areas were falling victim to anti-social behaviour caused by a number of properties tumbling into heavy decline.

A Stoke-on-Trent City Council report detailing the proposals claims problem tenants have been able to move freely between houses on the same street after landlords failed to take references.

It also states this has caused a low demand for houses along the streets, with a number of properties standing empty.

Failure to comply with the terms of the proposed licence could result in landlords being hit with heavy fines or having the property seized.

Families living in both roads have given their backing to the scheme.

Leonard Wilcox, aged 65, bought his house in Pinnox Street 36 years ago.

"This was a nice street when we moved here and we have seen it decline," he said.

"Last year was terrible. We had drug users living in some of the houses and now they have gone things have got better.

"We had a young girl knocking on our door once trying to sell a Royal Doulton figure. It was terrible.

"And we were also told that some of the drug users had smashed their way through the attic space into adjoining properties to rob them.

"We would certainly back this scheme if it stops people like that living here."

Charles Edmonds, pictured below, is chairman of the Pinnox Junction Residents' Association.

The 46-year-old, who has lived on the street for three years, said: "We have a lot of anti-social behaviour in the area with youths out in the street.

"We have a lot of trouble with absentee landlords as when tenants move out rubbish just gets dumped in the back yards and no-one clears it away.

"There was one instance where rats got in and they even started to come through to the neighbour's property.

"We leafleted a lot of homes in the area to let them know about the residents' association but haven't had a great response.

"There is not much community spirit here at the moment.

"We would happily back the selective licensing scheme."

Sheila Tudor, vice chairman of the association, aged 53, has lived in Pinnox Street for 28 years.

She said: "We do have problems with private landlords as they just don't seem to care.

"We have issues with some of the tenants who live in the houses and the people who come to visit them.

"When you come to sell your own property the price would be affected because of what's happening around you."

Any homes seized will be re-let under an agency and the income will be used to improve the homes.

If was is a surplus it would be returned to the landlord once the property was up to standard.

North Staffordshire Landlords' Association chairman Paul Griffiths described the scheme as "heavy-handed".

He said: "To blame private landlords who take difficult tenants in is very unfair.

"Landlords have no powers to deal with anti-social behaviour other than to evict, which simply moves the problem on."

To join the Pinnox Junction Residents' Association, or for more information about its work e-mail pinnoxjunction@hotmail.co.uk.

The association covers Pinnox Street, Gibson Street, Hand Street, Railway Street and Washington Street.