Tenants are staring down the barrel of rent hikes as another council weighs the future of a controversial Selective Licensing scheme – but the warning from one major landlord could have implications far beyond South Yorkshire.
In a hard-hitting letter obtained by the Rotherham Advertiser, property owner Maurice Healey, who runs Celtic Properties and manages over 50 rental homes across the borough, warns tenants that their rents may soon rise by more than £15 a month if the scheme is renewed following a council vote in September.
But this isn’t just a Rotherham issue. The implications are national. As landlords across the UK face rising costs from local authority regulations, energy efficiency standards, and inflation-driven maintenance expenses, tenants everywhere could be next in line to foot the bill.
Healey’s letter pulls no punches:
“Regrettably, landlords can no longer absorb these extra charges… If you do not wish to pay up to an extra £16.58 per month for the next five years, please contact your local councillors before they approve the scheme.”
The current licensing scheme – which ended in April after running since 2020 – covered areas including Rotherham town centre, Eastwood, Dinnington, Masbrough, and others. It required landlords to pay a £995 fee per property, valid for five years. The scheme is currently under public consultation until July 20, with a final vote set for September.
Healey said 13 of his properties fall within the affected zones, and he made clear that the cost will be passed on to tenants. “I am not against regulation,” he told the Advertiser. “But it has to be balanced and transparent. These homes are people’s lives – not just line items on a spreadsheet.”
Crucially, Healey notes that recent council communications failed to clearly explain to tenants that they could be absorbing these licensing costs through increased rent.
While Rotherham Council defended the scheme – citing over 7,800 safety hazards removed and 2,100 inspections completed under the previous plan – critics like Healey say that success should not come at the expense of renters already stretched thin.
A council spokesperson said:
“Selective licensing has the potential to bring significant benefits… including improved property standards, enhanced tenant safety and better management practices.”
But for landlords across the UK, the message is clear: as more councils adopt or renew licensing schemes – often with hefty fees and administrative requirements – rent increases will follow. For tenants already struggling under a cost-of-living crisis, this could push many closer to the edge.