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17/12/25 3:30 pm
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Landlords in Stockton have slammed the town’s selective licensing scheme as an “own goal” and an “exercise in futility”.
The scheme, which was approved in May 2024, covers central Stockton, north Thornaby and Newtown. More than 1,400 applications have been made to Stockon-on-Tees Council, with more than 1,000 already granted and work ongoing to assess the others, according to the authority.
However, it faced criticism from the start, with only 3% of landlords in favour, a consultation found, Teesside Live reports. One landlord, Aman Khurram, says: “Selective licensing is just a cash cow for the council. At least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask.”
Khalid Hussain believes it has caused “real and lasting harm to the community”. He says: “Lots of tenants have been evicted because of the new schemes. Well done Stockton Council. Another self-induced own goal.”
One landlord, who did not want to be named, adds: “Landlords are selling up and evicting tenants. We now have more ‘low housing demand’ in the area than before, but that was why the council brought the scheme out, saying they would solve it. Quite ironic really. An exercise in futility.”
Councillor Richard Eglington, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration and housing, insists it is making a difference. “Under the scheme we are able to protect and help tenants where property conditions have fallen short," he says. "There’s strong evidence for the benefits selective licensing brings, and the scheme is in line with government guidance.”
A recent meeting of the Safer Stockton Partnership heard that the council was investigating more than 300 potentially unlicensed properties. It had carried out 243 inspections by the end of October, and aims to ramp up inspections and anti-social behaviour interventions. It has already issued 130 property improvement plans.
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