Hundreds respond in consultation on £600 landlord licence in Telford

Telford & Wrekin Council's consultation into selective licensing received more than 900 responses, and nearly 300 people attended drop-in sessions on the issue.

Under the plans, private landlords in certain areas of Telford would have to buy £600 five-year licences before renting out their properties.

The council said that the scheme would improve the standard of privately-rented homes, bringing with it a cut in the amount of fly-tipping, crime and anti-social behaviour.

But critics said that it would result in rent increases, landlords selling up, devaluation of homes and increases in homelessness.

Chris Kowalik, of Telford & Wrekin Council, said the results would now be analysed and a decision made:

A report will also be published at a later date.

“During our ten week consultation on the proposal, nearly 300 people attended drop-in sessions and more than 900 people completed our survey," he said.

"We are now analysing all the information contained in the answers to the survey and comments made during the drop-in sessions. We are also noting comments made in response to our social media posts during the consultation period.

"The analysis, findings and results of the consultation will go into a report which we will openly publish in due course.”

The consultation started on June 12 and ends on August 21.

Parts of Hadley, Leegomery, Malinslee, Hollinswood, Brookside, Sutton Hill and Woodside are proposed to be affected by the licensing, a total of about 2,000 addresses.

Earlier this week, Telford MP Lucy Allan raised the issue of selective licensing schemes in Parliament.

She asked what recent discussion the secretary of state has had with local authorities on the effectiveness of the scheme.

In response, minister of state, Alok Sharma said: "We have received a number of applications since changes to selective licensing were introduced in April 2015 and a review will be started later this year."