A CITY council has been branded “incompetent” and kicked out of a Government scheme designed to protect tenants against rogue landlords.

The selective licensing scheme allows councils to keep tabs on landlords and make sure they are providing good accommodation.

Under the scheme, landlords must obtain a licence to ensure they are doing the right thing and meeting safety and quality standards.

Brighton and Hove City Council was granted permission to operate a selective licensing scheme.

But now Housing Minister Heather Wheeler has written to the council to revoke its licence.

A source close to the minister said the decision was due to “incompetence, mismanagement and a lack of due diligence”.

The council said it was “extremely surprised and disappointed” by the decision.

The source told The Argus: “People who rent in Brighton and Hove will now be denied the benefit of access to the selective licensing scheme, which can help ensure their home is safe and of a decent standard.

“Due to the incompetence of Brighton and Hove’s Labour-run council, the Housing Minister has been forced to stop the council operating this excellent scheme.

“It really says it all about Labour’s inability to run housing in Brighton and Hove.”

A spokesman for the Labour-run city council said: “We’re extremely surprised and disappointed by this decision.

“As a matter of urgency we will be seeking further clarification from the Government as to why they have changed their position on this only weeks after approving our scheme.

“We consulted the Government throughout our work to introduce our private sector housing licensing

scheme, and had been assured that we were proceeding correctly.

“We sent the Secretary of State all the information requested of us and believed we had made a strong case.

“We are therefore saddened that the decision the Secretary of State took in September has now been overturned by the same Secretary of State.

“The Government is still considering the case and we will of course assist them in any way we can.

“Our plans to extend our private sector housing licensing scheme are an important part of our strategy to control and reduce antisocial behaviour in the city.”

The scheme is designed to help protect residents from rogue landlords, give councils get greater oversight of who is or is not being let houses, and protect good landlords who are doing the right thing.