One upshot of the local elections, in which Reform UK won 677 individual council seats, is growing interest among in the party’s view on local licensing of landlords.

Although it has been vague on specific policies, its MPs have spoken against at least some elements of the Renters Reform Bill, and it remains to be seen whether they continue with landlord licensing regimes in councils which they now control or have significant influence.

In the autumn Nigel Farage said he may be forced to sell his rental property due to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Speaking on GB News, Farage called the Bill “a huge mistake” and “self-defeating” which could lead to a significant fall in available rental properties.

“I have a property I rent out, but the way it’s going I may just sell it”, Farage said at the time.

Meanwhile there is a new petition in opposition to the extension of licensing schemes across further councils.

Created by Portsmouth landlord Simon Fletcher it calls on the government to revoke a 2015 order which allowed it to define additional conditions now used by local authorities to set up what Fletcher call some “insidious” licensing schemes. 

The petition wording is:

We think the Selective Licensing of Houses (Additional Conditions) (England) Order 2015 should be revoked immediately by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and not implement new schemes or renew any schemes currently in effect.

We think this order is insidious. We think Councils may use it to implement heavy-handed measures where communities are most diverse without consideration for sensitivities of minority groups.

We think the Renters Rights Bill provides for a Private Rented Sector database obviating a need for such schemes.

You can see the petition for yourself here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/724989