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17/12/25 3:30 pm
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Rotherham Council could have a fight on its hands when it tries to renew its selective licensing scheme in the town.
Landlords in parts of Dinnington, Eastwood, Maltby, Masbrough, Parkgate and Thurcroft have had to pay £521 per property for a five-year licence since 2020 and the authority is now considering extending selective licensing into further areas, including parts of Clifton.
However, a 103-signature petition was handed to the council in April opposing the inclusion of five streets in the area, with residents arguing it would not tackle the intended issues, reports the BBC.
Councillors on the Improving Places Committee will scrutinise a report into the scheme’s impact tomorrow. Liberal Democrat councillors have previously urged the Labour-run council to pause any expansion until the impact of the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes clear, while petitioners warned the move could damage property values and unfairly label the neighbourhood as “deprived”.
Maurice Healey who owns Celtic Properties, which is landlord for more than 50 properties in the Rotherham area, advised tenants that their rent could increase by more than £15 per month if the scheme continues, the Rotherham Advertiser reported in July.
His letter explained: “Regrettably landlords can no longer absorb these extra charges without recovery from yourself via rent, on top of any other future rent increases to cover the other ever-increasing expenses we face.
"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 at the September council meeting.”
The council says it has issued 2,319 licences and exemptions and reports that 65% of the properties had hazards during the scheme – which operates at a loss. It handed out 2,574 formal enforcement notices along with 1,335 housing notices and 1,239 environmental notices.
It flags up the fact that many landlords are part-time and “lacking professional management skills”.
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