Controversial council wins High Court case against landlords' group

Hull council has won a legal case in the High Court against a local trade body, the Humber Landlords Association.

The claim challenged the implementation of the council’s so-called Private Housing Enforcement Policy. 

The HLA wanted to stop the policy, under which each tenant complaint was responded to with the serving of an Improvement Notice; the HLA says this ends with a fee of around £250 on the landlord unless he or she is a member of the council's accreditation scheme.

However, the High Court has now ruled that the council is within its rights to implement the policy. The decision also requires the sssociation to pay the Council’s legal costs of defending the claim. 

The association has been refused permission to appeal the court’s decision.

Councillor John Black, for the authority, says: “We see the misery caused on a daily basis by bad landlords. Inadequate housing conditions have a huge impact on the health of families and children living in this city.

“Whilst the vast majority of private landlords provide good quality properties that are safe, legal and decent we have a duty to protect residents from those that do not and welcome that the High Court has today ruled in our favour to enable us to do this.”

The council says its policy ensures that “private housing stock within the city is safe, well-managed, maintained in good repair, promotes good health and well-being, is not overcrowded and does not pose a statutory nuisance.”