11 Aug 26
Contributed article from Des Taylor
When a draft property licence is issued, there is a window during which representations can be made.
That window is typically short, and the time lost in transit or in simply identifying the document means that effective response time is often shorter still.
The process of making a representation requires a careful review of every condition on the draft licence, each heading, the exact wording used, what is being legally required, and what each subsection dictates.
The questions to ask are specific: is any condition structurally unreasonable, practically impossible to meet, or in conflict with another condition?
Does any term require you to take action you cannot lawfully take, such as evicting a tenant who holds a valid tenancy?
Without professional input, these points are very difficult to identify.
Once the representation window closes, the conditions as drafted become the conditions you are bound by.
If you have received a draft licence, seek advice before the deadline passes.
