Council to decide on future of landlord licences

Selective licensing aimed to improve housing standards, reduce crime and tackle anti-social behaviour

A council scheme requiring landlords in parts of Rotherham to be licensed is due to be reviewed, five years after the measure was introduced.

Landlords in certain areas have had to pay £521 per property for a five-year licence under the scheme, which aimed to improve housing standards, reduce crime and tackle anti-social behaviour.

Between May 2020 and April 2025, council officers inspected 2,377 homes and found hazards in 65% of those, including dangerous wiring, severe damp and fire risks.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council said the selective licensing project had led to savings of £148,000 for the NHS and £1.86m in wider health benefits, as well as cannabis worth £40m being seized.

It said 2,574 enforcement notices had been issued, while 589 of the most serious hazards had been removed and more than 7,500 lesser problems had been addressed throughout the scheme.

The project made it an offence for landlords to rent out properties without a licence in parts of Dinnington, Eastwood, Maltby, Masbrough, Parkgate and Thurcroft.

Possible expansion

The borough's Improving Places Committee will review and scrutinise a report into the impact of scheme on 2 September.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council had been considering extending selective licensing into further areas, including parts of Clifton, prompting some backlash.

A 103-signature petition was submitted to full council in April opposing the inclusion of five streets in the area, with residents arguing it would not tackle the intended issues.

Liberal Democrat councillors urged the Labour-run council to pause any expansion of the scheme until the impact of the government's upcoming Renters' Rights Bill becomes clear.

Petitioners warned the move could damage property values and unfairly label the neighbourhood as "deprived".

Councillors on the select commission will now examine the review before recommendations are made on the future of selective licensing in Rotherham.

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