Thousands of newly distributed leaflets about a landlord licensing scheme due to come into effect failed to mention the possibility of a legal challenge.
Croydon Council is due to introduce the scheme on October 1.
However, letting agents, landlords and developers have come together as Croydon Property Forum to seek a judicial review, alleging the council’s consultation process was flawed.
The local paper reports that a hearing has not yet been fixed for the judicial review application, which it says has been drawn up by a legal team that includes barristers behind the successful challenge in Enfield, north London.
Croydon Council insists that it is confident its licensing scheme is robust and lawful.
Comments (7)
ALL L’lords, Agents and any legal counsel acting for various schemes across the country should join forces and lobby the government to Change its legislation RETROSPECTIVELY applying the ‘ No more than 20% of an area without government approval.
We have a few bad eggs and we cannot be bothered to use the powers we have so we will tax everybody!
its about control. The EU is about Control. Its not about doing the right thing or making the lives of its ‘members’ better. Its a gravy train self serving and self justifying with control at the heart.
One has to wonder exactly why, given the immense unpopularity and string of legal challenges, some Councils stubbornly pursue the licensing route. Especially when there are other (existing) options available to them for dealing with rogue landlords.
Well just think: one web site suggests Croydon has about 30,000 properties rented out at £750.00 EACH PROPERTY I make that twenty Two million Five hundred Pounds (£22,500,000). GREED GREED GREED might just be the answer; they originally were intending to charge £1,000 per property a cool £30,000,000. Rogue Council I suggest!
Enfield was also confident its licensing scheme was lawful and robust!
My person view is that I hope they manage to take this ROGUE council down. The Government have indicated that this was never the intention of the Licensing Schemes and have amended the law to prevent this in the future without further scrutiny; whilst Croydon rushed this through knowing the changes were imminent.