Consultations over the proposal to extend Rotherham Council's current selective licensing scheme and raise fees by more than 50% have been heavily criticized by Independent Councillor Taibayasen (main photo).
At a recent meeting, Yasseen gave the Labour Councillors and Cabinet members to house Sarah Allen a grille because of both the failure to maintain decent standards in their country's housing and the error in the consultation process, calling it “misleading, confusing and inaccessible.” 
Treat the landlord as an enemy
She also accused her landlord of treating her as an enemy and said she should try to work with them instead, Allen denied.
Yasseen's main concern, however, was that the council's proposed fee would be increased from the current £521 to a maintenance fee of £785 and a £210 management fee, leading to landlords increasing rent and affordable prices for the borough's poorest residents.
Yasseen asked Allen: “Covering councils are already struggling to deal with the rising homelessness incident and are unable to pay rent, so can we ensure that those affected will not enter the Carlton Park Hotel or other hotels?”
The landlord can pay
Councillor Allen responded by suggesting that the fees would not need to be handed over to the tenants. She said: “As part of their social conscience, the landlord can decide that it is not.”
Next, “The current licensing fee of £521 has already been a feature of the housing market for the past five years, with no significant homelessness resulting from selective licensing declarations.”
“An alternative to this type of scheme is that a considerable number of Rotherham residents are forced to stay in accommodation rather than human habitation, not safe.”
The consultations will close on March 17th, with more information on proposals and how to respond can be found on the Council's website.
Learn more about selective licensing.
