My name is Alan Rice and I live in Weston-Super-Mare.

Several years ago when I lived in Worthing my wife woke me up at 3.00 am on a Sunday morning saying she could smell gas. I called British Gas’ emergency number and to their credit they were there in less than 30 minutes. The pilot light in the boiler (situated in a stairwell) had gone out and the safety valve had failed. The engineer told me that if I had switched on the light I would have blown half the house away. Our flat was rented from a pillar of the local community who I am sure considered herself a “good” landlord.

Weston-super-Mare landlords who similarly consider themselves “good” landlords have scuppered a plan by North Somerset Council to bring in a selective licensing scheme protecting private renters by threatening a Judicial Review. They cannot see why “good” landlords should be charged as well as “bad” landlords and are proposing a self-regulatory accreditation scheme for themselves. My bad experience demonstrates to me why their proposal to self-classify is such a bad idea.

At Banksy’s Dismaland I came across ACORN UK who pressed for selective licensing in Easton, Bristol resulting in a unanimous decision by Bristol City Council to bring it in. I was delighted that North Somerset Council (NSC) was to do the same in Weston but livid when in spite of a consultation 62% in favour NSC backed down after pressure from the landlords.

It is the landlords’ money that has resulted in this sorry state of affairs (they raised £12,000 in two weeks) and it is shameful that money can outweigh the expressed wish of the people.

Weston landlords flushed with their apparent success are offering advice throughout the country on how to scupper similar selective licensing schemes – they need to be stopped in their tracks.

Prove people power is more powerful than money and join with me to urge North Somerset Council to retain the introduction of the Selective Licensing Scheme proposed in Weston-super-Mare coastal wards by signing this petition.

Additional Information

North Somerset Council Executive resolved at their meeting of 21st June 2016:

(1) that the part of the area comprising Weston-super-Mare Central and Hillside Wards as set out .... be designated as a Selective Licensing Area under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004 in relation to all privately rented dwellings, unless a property is included in the mandatory Houses in Multiple Occupation licensing scheme or has statutory exemption;

(2) that the scheme will come into force on 1 November 2016 and (unless previously revoked) will cease to have effect at 23.59 on 31 October 2021

The scheme was brought in to address concerns expressed since 2012 about the significant levels of poor quality privately rented housing in the coastal wards of Weston-super-Mare. The statutory consultation took place over the required ten weeks and resulted in 62% supporting the main features of the scheme.

Unsurprisingly there was more support for the proposals from individuals (tenants and non tenants) at 78% than from landlords at 28%. The landlords who did not accept the democratic result of the consultation formed their own defence organisation “Somerset Property Network” and threatened the Judicial Review.

According to a press release of August 19th 2016 NSC has decided to consider alternatives put forward by the landlords. As a result the original scheme which was due to begin on 1st November will not be progressed.

Alan Rice