Council branded “deluded” by landlord over selective licensing scheme

Bankrupt Thurrock council are doing selective licensing scheme at the highest rate of £1052 per property but they are issuing licences using the national standard room sizes used for HMO rooms but when it’s a purpose built 2 bedroom flat but main bedroom is 8.52 and 2 nd bedroom is under slightly the 6.52 size, even though they have a massive lounge diner and kitchen and bathroom and passage areas- the licence is classed as only for one person So then rent I used to be able to achieve as a 2 bed flat now I will only be able to charge less and advertise as a one bed so I will sell it and so will the hundreds of landlords in Thurrock as many many flats down the riverside are all built with bedrooms of those sizes, so Thurrock will have no homes for people to rent???? Where is their logic Purpose built whole flats, and they are only taking bedroom size in their calculations. Ridiculous. What tenants would pay a two bed flat price to have all that space they don’t need? And can’t really afford one their own ??

I will increase the rents for all my remaining properties in GY and make it clear to the tenants where the rent increase has come from.

Delusional….

Reply to the comment left by Wendy Prince at 23/04/2026 – 11:07
Challenge the licence condition that restricts number of persons. That should only be for HMOs. It is Part X of Housing Act 1985 that regulates “over-crowding”. Having a blanket policy of stricter local standards goes beyond the remit of Part 3 licencing. From your description it is only statutorily over-crowded with more than 3.5 occupants. If you have had the licenece more than 28 days, you will need to apply to “vary” the licence to have the condition removed then appeal their refusal to vary it. First tier tribunal costs ~ £345 + any professional representation you chose to have. ELA can put you in touch with me.

Landlords will be increasing rent in anticipation of any potential licence scheme, let alone those already proposed!

I rarely post nowadays, I’ve moved on and slowly selling as property empties.

I think many miss the point of what’s going on…..like the council don’t ’get It’ or unintended consequences etc.

They get it, all politicians get it….all that is happening is they are taking a slice of the cake, long term is PRS suffers they don’t care. They don’t care about landlords, tenants, citizens, well being, pot holes, crime, money printing, wars, the environment…indeed they don’t care.

They are acting in a short term self interest, taking what they can from the system…be it directly through self interest, family members, fat pensions, severance payments etc.

Once you become cynical enough the arguments over the ‘why’ become unimportant…..so whether I am right or wrong doesn’t matter, their motives don’t matter.

I had 8/9 properties and now have 4…soon to be 3. Now I invest in other assets and it’s so much more easy. Some hefty CGT on sales which without inflation allowances seems unfair….but I needed to bite the bullet.

I remember when people used to moan about teachers having an easy job and big holidays….i often thought why moan, if it’s that good then become a teacher.

Same with this landlord business….if it’s that bad, sell and do something else.

These threads are a blessing though, I don’t judge the moaning and those who feel trapped.

Now IHT is the issue….so I’m have got to start spending and fast.

I’m not 60 yet, and that’s the plan. Hopefully I’ll spend and gift it fast enough to be able to get free care in my old age…..if that’s the system they want, that’s what I’ll give them.