Telford and Wrekin Council has put its planned additional licensing scheme on hold after landlords launched a legal challenge.

The scheme had been due to launch in August following a public consultation, but the process will now be paused until next year and reviewed again. It says this will allow time to assess the impact of both a new Article 4 Direction – which took effect in February - and wider national reforms before considering any further measures to improve housing standards.

Earlier this year, landlords were told they would have to fork out £1,522 for a licence after a consultation found 57% of respondents agreed with the proposals, which the council said needed to be borough-wide or risked pushing problems elsewhere. Landlords who have already applied will be contacted shortly with information and a refund if applicable.

Stressed

It stressed the scheme wasn’t “anti-landlord” and had approved an enhanced Landlord Support Programme to help them comply with the new requirements and those coming through the Renters’ Rights Act. This included providing technical licensing support through a new tenancy intervention officer to help landlords navigate the changes.

Councillor Nathan England, cabinet member for safer streets and better housing (pictured), says it wants to lead the way nationally in raising housing standards through a firm and robust approach. However, he adds that it has listened carefully to concerns raised by landlords about additional licensing and taken the decision to pause those proposals for now.

Monitor

"We will continue to monitor the impact of the changes already being introduced and revisit the position in 2027 as part of our ongoing commitment to improving housing standards across the borough,” adds England.

Earlier this year, Luton Council won its long-running legal battle to go ahead with selective and additional licensing schemes in the town while Scunthorpe’s heavily contested selective licensing scheme got the go-ahead after landlords lost their High Court battle to stop it. Most recently, a group of Thurrock landlords lost their final chance to challenge the Essex borough’s selective licensing scheme in July after the High Court dismissed another judicial review claim.

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