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Thurrock Council has vowed to “robustly defend” its new selective licensing scheme, despite it being paused while a judicial review considers claims of poor consultation.
The scheme, which launched last month, covers 12 of the 16 wards across the borough. It is expected to licence more than 15,000 private rented homes, requiring landlords in certain areas to pay £1,034 for a five-year licence and gives the council powers to revoke it if properties fail to meet minimum standards.
But the move has sparked opposition. Individual landlords and landlord groups have taken the council to the High Court, with a judicial review scheduled for next month. An injunction currently prevents the scheme from going ahead.
At a full council meeting last week, Stephen Boyling, director of Montana Property Development Co. Ltd – one of Tilbury’s biggest rental providers – criticised the rollout and demanded assurances the scheme would not be implemented while the legal challenge is pending. He also accused the council of mishandling a formal complaint he submitted.
Boyling is now calling for the licensing scheme to be suspended pending the review after bemoaning what he felt was “the complete lack of communication, transparency and adherence [by the local authority] to government guidelines leading up to the introduction of the scheme”.
In response, Cllr Lynda Heath, cabinet member for public protection, said the scheme is lawful, was properly consulted on, and is intended to improve conditions for tenants.
“The council is rightly proud of its selective licensing scheme,” she said. “A challenge has been brought, but we will be robustly defending it and have applied to set aside the interim injunction.”
“The court has not made any criticism of the council,” she added.
The court order has paused the application process, and any fees already paid are being held securely while the judge decides whether the case can proceed to a judicial review. The council said it will provide an update once the court makes its ruling.
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