Telford and Wrekin Council has scrapped its plans to extend its Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing regime, meaning landlords will avoid fees of more than £1,500 per property.
The council had proposed bringing smaller shared properties with three or four occupants into additional licensing. After consulting on the plans in late 2025, the local authority revoked the designation, with the decision taking effect on 15 September 2026.
The withdrawal follows a challenge from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), which raised concerns about the consultation process and threatened legal action. The NRLA argued that the council had failed to properly publicise the designation and had not provided key consultation documents.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, stated that the association raised serious concerns about the process and additional costs for landlords. He added that the NRLA was prepared to challenge the designation through the courts when their concerns were not addressed.
The council's decision also comes ahead of the introduction of the government’s national landlord database. The West Midlands is set to be the first region required to register from 15 December 2026. The NRLA had argued that landlords could have ended up submitting similar compliance information under both the local and national systems.