Landlord vows to carry on court fight against licence

A PROPERTY owner has vowed to carry on his fight to seek a full judicial review of the council’s plan to bring in a scheme to licence private landlords after a judge upheld only part of his challenge.

Constantinos Regas, a landlord who is heading up the Campaign Against Landlord Licensing in Enfield, was successful when he applied for judicial review of the scheme, but only in the part known as selective and additional licensing, under which private landlords will have to obtain a £500, five-year licence from Enfield Council to cover every property they own.

At the Royal Courts of Justice last month, Mr Justice Ouseley gave Mr Regas permission to challenge the additional licensing of homes in multiple occupation, but threw out the challenge to the council’s selective licensing scheme, which covers single private households, meaning this can now be implemented.

However, Mr Regas has told the Advertiser that he will be appealing against the court’s decision on the single private household aspect of the plans.

“I believe the scheme is unlawful, irrational and unreasonable,” he said. “I don’t think that the scheme meets the legal test set out in the Housing Act and the evidence about antisocial behaviour does not support the plan.”

In order to secure a licence, landlords have to provide references from tenants and ensure sufficient health and safety measures are in place, as well as procedures to deal with antisocial behaviour and environmental crime.

However, Mr Regas believes that this would limit tenants in what they could do in privately rented accommodation.

“There are conditions in the plans which say that vans cannot be parked on driveways – but what about tradesmen who rent?” he added.

“And to have to display the licence in the property would limit how tenants could decorate their homes.”

However, the council remains adamant that the scheme is needed to curb antisocial behaviour in the borough.

Cabinet member for housing, Ahmet Oykener, said: “The council remains committed to vigorously defending my challenge to plans to introduce much-needed licensing of the private rented sector. “We have been successful once in court and our expert independent legal advice is that we will be again.”

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