Progress Through Engagement: ELA Secures Improvements from Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Over recent months, the Eastern Landlords Association (ELA) has engaged in robust and, at times, challenging negotiations with Great Yarmouth Borough Council regarding the proposed selective licensing scheme. While our fundamental concerns about the scheme remain, we wish to acknowledge the positive changes that have resulted from ELA’s persistent advocacy and determined efforts at the negotiating table.

It is important to highlight that ELA is currently the only large landlord association actively fighting selective licensing and standing up for landlords in this way. ELA has taken a leading and visible role in challenging these policies, ensuring that landlords’ voices are heard and their interests are robustly represented.

Key Outcomes from Hard-Fought Negotiations

1.        Reduction in Scheme Costs

After sustained scrutiny and negotiation, the overall cost of the scheme has been reduced by £450,000, bringing the total revenue collected to fund the scheme to £3.45 million. This has resulted in the licence fee per property being reduced to £694, divided into a £200 application fee and a £494 administration and enforcement fee. These savings were only achieved through ELA’s insistence on transparency, efficiency, and value for money.

2.        Flexible Payment Arrangements for Portfolio Landlords

The council has agreed—following strong representations from ELA to consider incremental (annual) payments for landlords with 10 or more properties in the affected wards, on a case-by-case basis. This approach recognises the financial pressures faced by larger landlords and was introduced directly as a result of ELA’s advocacy.

3.        Fewer Inspections Required

A significant improvement secured through negotiation is the reduction in the frequency of property inspections. Under the revised scheme, inspections will now take place twice a year, rather than four times as previously proposed. This change will help minimise disruption for landlords and tenants alike, while still maintaining oversight of property standards.

4.        Commitment to Transparency and Communication

The council has committed to reconciling discrepancies between Freedom of Information (FOI) data and internal financial models, following concerns raised by ELA about transparency. All consultation responses—of which approximately 90% were opposed to the scheme—will be published for public scrutiny. The council has also acknowledged the need for improved communication with landlords, particularly those who are non-local or accidental landlords.

5.        Emphasis on Fairness in Enforcement

The council has assured stakeholders that enforcement will be approached on a case-by-case basis, with an emphasis on education and compliance rather than automatic penalties. Accidental or uninformed non-compliance will be treated with discretion, rather than as strict liability.

Our Position

While ELA remains fundamentally opposed to selective licensing believing it to be an unnecessary financial burden on responsible landlords and tenants, we are pleased that our hard-fought negotiations have led to meaningful improvements in the scheme’s design. We hope that these changes will help towards easing the financial burden placed on tenants, as well as landlords. We continue to view selective licensing as a policy that does not address the root causes of housing challenges and believe that a multi-agency approach is required for lasting change. We look forward to seeing the socio-economic position of Great Yarmouth being improved by the Borough Council.

Call to Action: Landlords, Make Your Voice Heard

The final decision on the scheme will be made by the council’s Cabinet on 2 December 2025. We urge all landlords and stakeholders to:

• Stay engaged with the process and review the published consultation responses.

  
  

• Contact your local representatives to express your views and concerns.

• Join the ELA if you have not already, to ensure your interests are represented and your voice is part of a collective effort.

A Note of Thanks

ELA would like to thank Great Yarmouth Borough Council for their continued positive engagement throughout this process. The willingness of the council to listen, respond to concerns, and work collaboratively with landlord representatives marks a positive step forward in bringing landlords and GYBC together. We look forward to building on this constructive relationship for the benefit of all parties involved.

ELA is grateful for the opportunity to represent landlords’ interests and will continue to advocate for fairness, transparency, and genuine partnership in all future discussions. Together, we can make a difference.