Landlord Association Challenges Great Yarmouth Council’s Licensing Plans

The Eastern Landlords Association (ELA) has issued a formal pre-action protocol (PAP) letter to Great Yarmouth Borough Council, demanding the withdrawal or a six-month delay of its selective licensing scheme due to commence on 1 April 2026. The ELA has given the council 14 days to respond before it pursues legal action.

This move follows similar opposition elsewhere in the UK, such as the Leeds Landlord Lobby Group’s GoFundMe campaign to fund a judicial review of Leeds’ selective licensing, which they describe as “unlawful, disproportionate and damaging.”

Concerns Over Council’s Use of Selective Licensing

Paul Cunningham, chair of the ELA, criticised the council’s approach, stating: “The ELA hopes this threat of action will bring an end to the proposed selective licensing in Great Yarmouth. To date, an awful lot of taxpayers’ money has been spent on this by the council, only for them to have it wrong.”

He further argued that the scheme would not improve the borough’s housing stock, pointing out that “the majority of problems” lie with the council’s own properties. Cunningham described the licensing plan as “an example of a cash-strapped council trying to raise funds,” warning it would likely lead to increased rents for tenants.

The association has also requested detailed data and analysis explaining why alternative measures to selective licensing were not considered. According to the ELA, the only data supporting the scheme was withheld during the consultation period, raising transparency concerns.

Council’s Position and Response

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has not commented on the legal threat but has previously maintained that it has complied with all relevant legislation. A council spokesperson said: “In preparing its proposals for a selective licensing scheme in Great Yarmouth, the council followed nationally recognised best practice with the aim of producing a scheme that will deliver significant improvements for the quality of life of thousands of people renting homes in the town by ensuring legal standards for safe homes are met.”

The spokesperson emphasised the transparency and high participation of the public consultation, noting that over 275 respondents influenced the final proposal, which included reducing costs for landlords. They added: “Selective licensing schemes already operate successfully across wide parts of the country and no one should lose sight of the fact that the only purpose of introducing a selective licensing scheme is to improve the quality of housing for people in our communities.”

They concluded by reassuring landlords: “Good landlords have nothing to fear from a selective licensing scheme, wherever they operate, and the council is confident its proposal meets all the necessary legal requirements for its introduction.”

What This Means for Landlords

Selective licensing schemes require landlords to obtain a licence for certain rented properties, often involving fees and compliance with specific standards. While councils argue these schemes improve housing quality and tenant safety, landlord groups warn they can increase costs and rents without addressing the root causes of housing issues.

Landlords in Great Yarmouth and similar areas should monitor developments closely, as legal challenges could delay or alter the implementation of licensing schemes. Understanding the consultation process and the data behind such schemes is crucial for landlords to assess their potential impact.

Wider Context of Selective Licensing Challenges

The ELA’s challenge is part of a broader trend of landlord associations contesting selective licensing across the UK. The Leeds Landlord Lobby Group’s judicial review campaign exemplifies growing resistance, reflecting concerns about the proportionality and legality of some schemes.

These disputes underscore the need for councils to ensure transparency, robust evidence, and clear communication with landlords when proposing licensing schemes, balancing tenant protections with the interests of responsible landlords.

Suggested internal link anchors

• selective licensing scheme UK
• landlord legal action
• Great Yarmouth selective licensing
• landlord association challenges
• tenant safety standards
• licensing consultation process
• impact on rents
• housing quality improvements
• judicial review of licensing
• landlord compliance requirements

TLA update

TLA is launching a new Trusted Partners Hub in Q1 2026, featuring verified and approved service providers selected to support landlords, tenants, and property management businesses. We are inviting legal, trades, insurance, financial, mortgage, tenant screening, and other service providers to register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/