Selective Licensing Scheme ‘Additional Powers’ Ruled Illegal By Court of Appeal

Selective licensing and the use of Article 4 should both be outlawed. This gives local Council unnecessary powers to abuse some its citizens, who vote them in, a kind of thuggery or bullying, councils have been given too much powers that they are now destroying the meaning of true Democracy. They are subjecting many of its people to Dictatorial regime.

This is music to my ears, it supports all the arguments I made to WLDC during the consultation period prior to them bringing in SL in South West Ward Gainsborough.

Long awaited and good to have this clarified. While I certainly don't have an issue with installing carbon monoxide alarms and getting an EICR done (I do both as a matter of course, although the law doesn't currently require it) I DO have an issue with bodies imposing this and particularly more frivolous rules that they simply make up as they go along when it is not a legal requirement.

Reply to the comment left by Mandy Thomson at 22/02/2018 - 19:06
All my properties had carbon monoxide alarms fitted, my electrics complied with HHRS but I had to spend a lot of money bringing them up to licensing conditions. I will wait with interest to see what happens. All being well it could see the end of SL, but I'm not holding my breath, it is too good a moneyspinner for the Council.

Hi Mark, very interesting especially as Bristol are about to launch a City Wide Additional Licensing scheme - where can I find out more about this case?

Reply to the comment left by Rob Crawford at 22/02/2018 - 19:46
RLA seem to be funding it so try their Press Office.

Congratulations once again to Paul.. I had many conversations with Paul before Liverpool pulled off their fraudulent scheme, He is a fantastic advocate for landlord issues and indeed common sense. I don't believe this will sink selective licensing, rather simply rein it in a little. It must be remembered this is a great cash cow for bankrupt mis managed Local authorities who still have their Chief execs sucking disgusting salaries from public coffers. They on the whole make more than the PM. What Pauls Victory today proves is that Landlords must fight and use guerrilla tactics to frustrate and stall councils. This is not at all difficult or illegal. I have studies the conditions of many local authorities. They vary greatly and are badly drafted. The reality is however with such a hostile environment , The situation will only change when The zealots have to face the unpalatable reality that their meddling ,interference and Over regulation has reduced the amount of private accommodation available. What are Councils to do?. Build more ghettoes. Let them figure it out for themselves. in the Mean time Landlords , zero co operation, Zero engagement and argue Like Paul and myself at every turn. Being nice and allowing Councils to pretend that its all cuddly and they work with Good landlords etc is nothing more than Bullshit.

In a way this ruling is rather important for those landlords who are forced to get a Selective License, where if the landlord had overlooked some issues with his compliance which falls under other rules outside the selective license rules, he or she cannot then be charged for neglect under the Selective License rules and lose his license. A different ruling would apply and the landlord can then face different charges for failing to comply outside of Selective License. Under the Selective License scheme penalties can be much higher and risk losing a license.

I'm surprised at the single comment on 24Housing's article:

"RLA wants to neuter licensing.

If you operate a lorry, you have have an operator's licence in which you meet certain standards - you do not do want you want and wait for VOSA to catch you out. If you run a restaurant, you have to meet hygiene standards and not wait for the Environmental Health officer to call and take you court.

Why do private landlords think they have a unique right to operate their parasitic businesses free from any binding obligations to provide safe services?"

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 23/02/2018 - 14:29
Obviously posted by one of the HPC morons who also frequent The Guardian for company and troll every other online property article they can find because they have nothing better to do .... apart from on this website, WHERE THEY ARE ALL BANNED.

At least the cretin who wrote that comment has finally accepted that landlords are indeed running businesses. I suppose any progress in training a creature with the brain capacity of a fish has to be celebrated.