Nottingham City Council faces funding questions ahead of Awaab’s law deadline
10 months ago | 5 comments
Landlord claims selective licensing will force evictions of long-term tenants
9:35 AM, 6th August 2025, 8 months ago
24
Categories:
A Nottingham landlord says “the council’s hands are tied by homeless-inducing rules” because selective licensing fails to protect tenants.
Mick Roberts, one of Nottingham’s largest landlords for housing benefit tenants over the past 28 years, is trying to sell 11 of his properties.
However, Nottingham City Council is now demanding full selective licensing fees, despite the fact he’s trying to sell, and the licences cannot be transferred to new landlords.
Licensing does nothing to protect tenants
Mr Roberts claims the licensing rules will force him to evict tenants just to sell, with many of those tenants having lived in their homes for more than 20 years.
He told Property118 that Nottingham City Council has emailed him asking when he expects to sell certain properties over the next seven to eight months, but he says the council is missing the point.
Mr Roberts said: “The council is asking when I expect to sell, which is a tricky word, because I hope to sell all of them, and I could if I evict my tenants, which is exactly what the rules are pushing us to do.
“I don’t understand how I’m meant to do my best to prevent homelessness for a 68-year-old tenant who’s been there 22 years, when licensing is doing nothing to protect that tenant.”
He added: “If I evict, that’s going to cost Nottingham Council far more than a licensing fee, are the people running licensing even aware of this? The council’s hands are tied by homeless-inducing rules.”
Waste of money
Despite this, Nottingham City council continue to push Mr Roberts to pay hundreds of pounds to licence his properties.
The selective licence fee is split into two parts. When Nottingham’s current scheme was introduced, the first instalment was £219 for accredited landlords. The second instalment was £446 for each individual property licence.
Mr Roberts has 11 properties in the area, which means he could face a bill of nearly £5,000.
According to Nottinghamshire Live, the council has agreed to introduce a three-month exemption from the fees, which can be extended for another three months, on six of the properties where progress is being made on the sales.
However, Mr Roberts tells Property118 the licensing fees are nothing more than a waste of money.
He explains, “The council told me the Part A fee I paid in December 2023 covers the cost of processing the licence, for which they had already issued drafts.
“Seriously? I paid £219? We can MOT a dangerous car for £40.
“And it takes licensing £400 and 40 hours to process a house we’ve already submitted forms for? Seriously? Are they related to tortoises?”
A recent Facebook post by Nottinghamshire Live covering selective licensing has attracted numerous comments, with many members of the public voicing strong opposition to the licensing scheme.
Ongoing communication
Nottingham City Council told Nottinghamshire Live they have been in contact with Mr Roberts.
A council spokesperson told the newspaper: “We have been in ongoing communication with Mr Roberts for several months regarding the selective licensing of his properties.
“He has been given ample time to progress his applications and make representations, and our teams have provided detailed advice about his options.”
However, Nottinghamshire Live reports that the council is once again experiencing problems with its website, which displays an error message, leaving Mr Roberts unable to pay his licence fees.
Mr Roberts previously told Property118 he feared he could face a prison sentence under the council’s selective licensing scheme, after being unable to complete the application due to the website being down.
Comments
Have Your Say
Every day, landlords who want to influence policy and share real-world experience add their voice here. Your perspective helps keep the debate balanced.
Not a member yet? Join In Seconds
Login with
or
Next Article
Home-buyer CCTV Surveys?Related Articles
Council households stuck in damp and mould backlog as one landlord calls out double standard
1 year ago | 1 comments
Nottingham City Council ordered to refund Landlord after Tribunal rules against council
2 years ago | 15 comments
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
3:04 PM, 6th August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Northernpleb at 06/08/2025 – 10:43
Would make good numbers for them if they bought the houses.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
3:04 PM, 6th August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by at 06/08/2025 – 10:58
I wish to sell right now. Don’t want the house. Am only keeping it for the tenant. Am struggling selling some within Licensing Time frames with the tenant in. I can sell within Licensing Time Frames if I evict the tenant now. I’m prepared to lose money on the sale to get a Landlord which will take time, Licensing won’t work with us. Why should I reduce the house by 20k AND pay the License fee that DOESN’T GET TRANSFERRED to new Landlady?
Why should I do all the housing? It’s not my duty?
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
3:04 PM, 6th August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Helen at 06/08/2025 – 11:11
It is more hassle selling with tenants in.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
3:05 PM, 6th August 2025, About 8 months ago
That’s a point with the increased SDLT
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
3:08 PM, 6th August 2025, About 8 months ago
I’ve also had this off Licensing this week.
Licensing admitting the phone number they give us don’t work when the worker is out the office as linked to laptop.
They now changing it, why can’t they realise this theirselves before I tell em…….
Member Since August 2014 - Comments: 175
6:06 PM, 6th August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by at 06/08/2025 – 10:58
It is commonly known that selling a property without “vacant possession”, which is what almost all mortgage lenders demand in order to offer a mortgage, will reduce the market value of a property by easily 20%. Also even if no mortgage required you will find the conveyancing solicitor also insists on vacant possession in order to protect the buyer.
Otherwise there is the option of selling to another landlord who is a cash buyer and prepared to take on an existing tenant but that will most likely result in much longer on the market and will anyway result in a lower than market offer.
The Govt has deliberately destroyed the viability of PRS for independent landlords and we are now seeing the results of their endeavours.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
8:45 AM, 7th August 2025, About 8 months ago
That’s exactly it, u say it brilliantly & perfectly.
The Govt & Council’s anti landlord actions since 2015 have had the opposite effect to keeping tenants safe.
Landlords super cautious now about buying with tenant in, so the chances are MUCH less of selling with tenant in to keep SAFE in their home. Govt actions again causing homeless.
Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 9
5:41 PM, 7th August 2025, About 8 months ago
I had two important the same terrace
So commenced the process
As part of that I was instructed to write and explain
One called me and said what’s this about I said I have sent her the leaflet. And explained my understanding.
My other tenant who had been a good tenant abandoned the place
I had paid the deposit.
For SL and she was gone before I completed the process godklnows where
The council refused to refund what I had paid I told them you’ve just spooked a perfectly good tenant.
I am now writing to my other tenant who is in arrears explaining cost increases
I think she will also move out
I’ve just had another tenant move out in another county so this 3 that I may have for sale the other is in final stages.
They are creating their own problems.
The licencing scheme has been extend luckily I am one street outside.
I have never raised rents mid tenancy but doing this may protect me as in nearly three years I haven’t moved with the market. This was my kids inheritance
So as they are sold the benefit will be gifted to each of them
I m going to have pay quite a bit of tax, and after that it will be shared. Its a relief to be honest
As I draw down and declutter
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
10:49 AM, 8th August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by DavoLFCUbique at 07/08/2025 – 17:41
They do create a problem where there wasn’t a problem before. Wrecking 200 tenants homes to improve 40 homes is not good odds. Council’s own figures by the way. Initially 20% of houses had no problems. They’ve increased that statistic now cause it looks good on paper.
Member Since October 2024 - Comments: 188
1:41 PM, 8th August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 06/08/2025 – 15:04
I would like to sell my empty house. the sale fell through. He wanted empty property so kept it empty. Now another investor (first time) want it but only if rented out. She would let almost 10% in rent but the agent says she will make a lower offer when let. So it is not in my interest to her. I believe it is someone I know, who wished to buy at stupid low price so she gets like 14% return.