Renters’ Rights Bill is not about tenants but creating a ‘council cash windfall’
11 months ago | 15 comments
Petition against ‘heavy-handed’ selective licensing schemes launched
9:53 AM, 6th May 2025, 11 months ago
12
A Parliamentary petition to challenge selective licensing rules, claiming they are being exploited by councils for generating cash has been launched by a landlord.
Simon Fletcher explains on the Portsmouth and District Private Landlords Association website that the 2015 government order, which broadened local councils’ powers to implement selective licensing, lacks proper Parliamentary oversight and is harming both landlords and tenants.
He says the order, which was introduced by Eric Pickles, should be repealed and points to its ‘heavy-handed’ application and unintended consequences.
Revoke insidious order
Mr Fletcher says: “The Selective Licensing of Houses (Additional Conditions) Order 2015, defining four more conditions that are now used by councils up and down the country to justify schemes that are, to my mind, really insidious.
“I have started a petition on the Parliament website aimed at encouraging the current secretary of state to revoke that Order.”
He added: “Across the country, we see increasing numbers of councils introducing selective licencing applicable to all houses and flats in a designated area.
“Some councils are imposing licence fees of £900 or more even for the smallest flats, such as in Havering and in North Lincolnshire.
“These schemes, especially those with higher fees, can be extremely heavy-handed, impacting on tenants’ rights as much as on landlords’ competitiveness.”
Councils overstep authority
Mr Fletcher also accuses councils of overstepping their authority by misinterpreting the 2015 Order’s intent, using licensing to generate revenue rather than improve housing quality.
He says that councils are increasingly relying on the ‘self-funding’ programmes to appear proactive while cutting core services because of budget constraints.
Also, since the licensing costs are passed on to tenants through higher rents or reduced property maintenance, the fees undermine the schemes’ goals.
He said: “This is nothing more than unfounded blind optimism that there is an opportunity to get something for nothing from a ‘self-funding’ programme, and they won’t listen to reason on the real implications.”
Landlords wanting to sign the petition can do so on the government’s website.
Tags:
council schemes, Councils Exploiting Licensing Rules, housing petition, landlord fees, Property investment, Rental market, Revoke Selective Licensing Law, Selective Licensing, Selective Licensing Impact on Landlords, Selective Licensing Petition UK, Tenant rights, UK Landlord Licensing Fees
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Member Since August 2022 - Comments: 100
9:11 AM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Thank you to Simon Fletcher for taking this initiative.
I have signed it. It will be tough to get to 10,000 signatures though.
Member Since November 2024 - Comments: 81
9:49 AM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Thanks to Simon Fletcher for doing this. I have also signed it because the Order is open to abuse by Councils.
Member Since January 2023 - Comments: 317
10:29 AM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by A Reader at 06/05/2025 – 09:49
Signed as well. SL is OTT . Dodgy LLs never sign up to any licencing.
Member Since February 2025 - Comments: 15
12:42 PM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
I have just signed the petition.
Definition of Selective Licensing – can’t remember where I saw it!
“Legalised Theft to feed bankrupt councils – packaged as a scheme when it’s really a tax (theft)”.
Or as I like to refer to it as – Mob Money – similar to that extracted by the Mafia!
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 85
12:59 PM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
I cannot understand why more landlords are not signing up.
Member Since September 2023 - Comments: 28
2:53 PM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Petition signed!
Selective licensing is there to protect tenants so they say.
My licence expired in June 2024 I applied and paid to renew it in April 2024 and of course I’m still waiting.
So my tenants could have a landlord that is completely non compliant, abusive but council really don’t care.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
4:12 PM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Just need to look at the reasons London Borough of Croydon was not allowed to renew their licensing scheme when it expired by the Secretary of State and the Treasury.
Though seems they are trying to reinstate it, needs fighting.
Member Since February 2022 - Comments: 203
6:28 PM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Stewart at 06/05/2025 – 12:59
Probably because they are not in a SL area…..yet.
Member Since July 2024 - Comments: 112
7:58 AM, 8th May 2025, About 11 months ago
signed
Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 3
8:19 AM, 10th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Thank you to Simon Fletcher for taking this initiative.
We all have to take action on issues like this; our rights as landlords are diminishing, and it is time to take positive action and defend ourselves rather than suffer in silence.