Landlords have taken legal action against Middlesbrough’s Labour Council claiming its licensing scheme which will now be charging virtually £1,000 (minus £2) is unlawful.

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The town’s local media reports that the council’s executive agreed in April that the Newport 1 area for a selective licensing scheme for the next five years and the fee would be exorbitantly increased from its previous £820 charge to £998.

The Middlesbrough Gazette says two landlords sought legal advice and say they intend to seek a High Court quashing order, nullifies a decision which has been made by a public body, making the council’s action/decision invalid.

Processes have been started to stop the scheme being enforced in July.

Many landlords have already branded the scheme as “rapacious and unreasonable” and are warning the council it is a massive deterrent to landlords wanting to ‘house’ tenants.

The Gazette reports: “The council says evidence shows that significant and ongoing anti-social behaviour and low demand for housing are linked to the private rental sector in North Ormesby and Newport and selective licensing aims to improve the standards of property management.”

The two landlords who  have started the legal action are claiming the council has not complied with compulsory requirements in making its decision. Their solicitor has sent through legal papers suggesting the data the council used regarding anti-social behaviour from other areas of the ward to back up its decision to introduce selective licensing into the Newport 1 area, and were not inclined to even consider any alternatives to the scheme.