Private landlords group launches JR of Croydon selective licensing scheme

A group of private landlords is to take the London Borough of Croydon to judicial review over its licensing scheme.

The council decided to launch the scheme the scheme earlier this year, when it said that private renting had increased significantly in the borough “with negative consequences including antisocial behaviour and poor-quality homes”.

Some 30,000 homes are rented privately and the licence is designed to require landlords to take action against tenants who engage in anti-social conduct and to maintain their properties adequately.

They must also demonstrate they are ‘fit and proper’ persons to be landlords.

Landlords renting out a property without the licence will face fines of up to £20,000, while anyone breaking licence conditions could be prosecuted and fined up to £5,000.
Licences will cost £750 but this is reduced until October to £350.

But the Croydon Property Forum, a body made up of some local landlords, is to take the licence to judicial review, though it has not yet disclosed on what grounds.

A council spokesman said: “We are confident that our landlord licensing scheme is robust, lawful and will raise housing standards across the borough, and we’ll continue preparing to launch this scheme from 1 October.”