Private landlords have lost an expensive battle to try and prevent a council introducing a selective licensing scheme.

Rotherham Council was challenged by the Rotherham Action Group, which applied for a judicial review.

However, their application has been dismissed by a judge at Leeds Combined Court.

He found that the council had acted rationally and proportionately, and he ordered RAG to pay the council’s costs of £223,128.

Landlords with properties in the centre of Rotherham, Dinningon and parts of Maltby will have to pay £605 for a five-year licence. There will be discounts for landlords whose properties have already had safety checks.

Licences in the affected areas must now be applied for as quickly as possible.

Details are here