Telford and Wrekin Council withdraws HMO licensing scheme after challenge
UKPulse Property Desk
Landlords in Telford and Wrekin have avoided proposed licensing fees of over £1,500 per property after the council withdrew its additional licensing scheme for smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) challenged the council's consultation process.
- Telford and Wrekin Council withdrew its additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs.
- The scheme would have imposed fees of more than ��1,500 per property.
- The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) challenged the council over its consultation.
Landlords with smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the Telford and Wrekin Council area will not face proposed licensing fees exceeding £1,500 per property. The council has withdrawn its additional licensing scheme following a challenge from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).
The NRLA raised concerns about the council's consultation process and the costs landlords would have incurred. The withdrawn scheme would have applied to houses with three or four occupants.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, stated that the council admitted it had failed to publicise the scheme properly. Key documents, including proposed fees and conditions, were reportedly missing from the consultation page.
The council revoked the designation on 11 September 2026, with the withdrawal taking effect on 15 September 2026. While the additional licensing is paused, a separate Article 4 Direction is still expected to take effect in February 2027.
Why this matters: The withdrawal of the scheme means landlords in the affected area will not incur the proposed additional licensing fees.
What this means for you: If you are a landlord with a smaller HMO in the Telford and Wrekin Council area, you will not be subject to the previously proposed additional licensing fees of over £1,500 per property.