Hull City Council has been successful today in defending a claim for Judicial Review in the High Court from the Humber Landlords Association.
The claim challenged the implementation of the new Private Housing Enforcement Policy and wanted to prevent the Council’s approach in favour of formal enforcement (rather than informal) action to protect tenants in the private rented sector. However, it has now been ruled that the Council is within its rights to implement the policy.
The decision also requires the Association 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, portfolio holder neighbourhoods and housing said: “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 aims of Hull City Council’s Private Housing Enforcement Policy is to ensure that private housing stock within the City is safe, well-managed, maintained in good repair, promotes good health and well-being, is not over crowded and does not pose a statutory nuisance.
