Landlords launch legal action against council

Gresham Road is within the Newport 1 area of Middlesbrough

A council is facing legal action from landlords who claim they have been hit with unlawful fees.

Middlesbrough Council recently introduced selective licensing across parts of Newport, meaning landlords have to pay £998 for each property they own in the area.

Landlords have branded the scheme "rapacious and unreasonable" and claimed it stops people buying and renting homes.

The council said selective licensing has been designed to improve anti-social behaviour in the area.

An area known as Newport 1 was made subject to selective licensing rules in April.

It means landlords are required to prove they are a "fit and proper person" to hold a licence and must ensure they effectively manage their properties.

The fee has also increased from £820 per property, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Sick of it'

Those taking legal action claim the council did not comply with mandatory requirements in making the decision.

Legal papers suggest the council relied on data regarding anti-social behaviour from other parts of the ward to justify licensing in Newport 1 and failed to consider alternatives to the scheme.

One of the landlords, who did not want to be named, said their solicitor had sent a formal challenge to the council.

"Defending this at court will waste time and resources and cost further public money," they said.

"So many landlords are really sick of it."

Selective licensing has been running in parts of Newport and North Ormesby for seveal years.

Middlesbrough council claimed the scheme had "led to great improvements to the areas".

A spokesman for the local authority said it would be inappropriate to comment on the legal challenge at this stage.