Landlords fight Hastings licensing scheme

Landlords continue their fight against Hasting's Borough Council's proposal to introduce a Selective Licensing Scheme (SLS).

Local landlords and letting agents, alongside the Southern Landlords Association (SLA) and the National Landlords Association (NLA) are preparing to take legal action if the scheme is approved.

The proposed licensing scheme for ten wards of the town will cost landlords £400 for each rented  property.

Tony Richard from the National Landlords Association (NLA), commented

“Hastings Borough Council has not fully explored alternatives to a Selective Licensing Scheme.  An existing scheme tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) involving HBC, local social housing associations and police, which currently does not include the private rented sector, was notably excluded from the council report. It is highly relevant to the local issue of licensing and is likely to be a far more cost effective alternative to licensing, which draws on the experience of all sectors involved in the provision of and management of the town’s housing.”

Barrister, Andrew Lane, reflected on the council’s report and consultation process - 

“It’s concerning that HBC is unwilling to accept this when there’s little evidence to support their justification for the scheme, which hinges on claims that the incidence of ASB is higher in areas of the town that include a concentration of private rented housing." 

“It’s well known that the highest incidence of ASB actually occurs in the social housing sector and this does not fall under the proposed new legislation.

Any legal challenge made by landlords against Hasting Borough Council would take the form of a judicial review at the High Court, as with the Enfield Council case lead by the landlord, Constantinos Regas back in December. 

Hastings Borough Council will be taking a decision on the scheme on March 30.


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