Challenge of entire Enfield additional and selective licensing scheme in High Court: Wed 26 Nov 2014

23rd November 2014

Challenge of entire Enfield additional and selective licensing scheme in High Court: Wed 26 Nov 2014

Following our application to the Court of Appeal, we now have permission to challenge both the additional licensing scheme, which covers small Houses in Multiple Occupation (3 or more people, in 2 or more households, sharing amenities) and the selective licensing scheme (single household lets). The strengthened case is being sent back to the High Court.

The judicial review trial of the entire scheme is currently listed in the High Court for Wednesday 26th November, as a one-day trial. It will take place at the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London.

We do not yet have details of the room or start time, so please plan to be there at 10.15. Details are normally provided mid-afternoon the previous day and we will send out a mailshot. 

Our barristers will be Jonathan Manning and Justin Bates, both of Arden Chambers. They previously overturned the licensing scheme in Hyndburn.

 

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far to the fighting fund. We still need your support. If we win and get costs back, we will refund your investment.

If you have pledged but not yet paid in, please pay in now. Please contact us on the email below if you have any issues doing so or if you want to contribute in cash or by cheque.

 

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For more information on the case, including highlighted licence conditions. visit the website.

 

Last Wednesday,12 November, Enfield Council re-approved its decision to implement the additional licensing scheme, even though a High Court judge described the original decision as "arguably unlawful". 

Constantinos spoke against the decision, highlighting a submission to Parliament by Enfield Council in January 2013, where they said:

"Enfield considers that the introduction of more draconian legislation would penalise the good landlords as well as the bad and the most effective way of improving standards in the private sector is to ensure robust enforcement using existing legislation.
...
With a background of high demand for private rented housing and a shortage of properties in the market, the roll out of licensing of landlords in Enfield would not be beneficial with regards to increasing the supply or improving the standard of private sector housing."

 

Anthony Webb are keen to support Mr Constantino as this will have implications for local Landlords in Palmers Green, Southgate and Winchmore Hill.