London council to expand its selective licensing scheme

A London council is looking at a significant expansion of its selective licensing scheme which will cost landlords £923.

After being launched in four wards, the scheme will now cover most of the borough, impacting an estimated third of Lambeth’s dwellings in the private rented sector (PRS).

The scheme requires landlords renting to single-family households or a maximum of two unrelated sharers to obtain a license from the council.

The council says licensing will improve property management and tackle issues like anti-social behaviour and deprivation.

‘Quality housing is a right’

Councillor Mahamed Hashi, the cabinet member for safer communities, said: “We believe good quality housing is a right. Private Renting is often the only option for residents who can’t access social housing.

“Whilst most landlords provide good, safe accommodation, there are some who take advantage of tenants, or don’t know what their responsibilities are.

“That is why it’s important that the full range of powers is not only available to the council, but readily used.”

He added: “We are committed to working with good landlords, helping them understand the legislative requirements; but we’re also committed to tackling those landlords that refuse to provide safe and healthy housing for tenants in Lambeth.”

1,000 landlords applied for licenses

At a cabinet meeting, councillors heard that more than a thousand landlords had already applied for licenses in the first month of the scheme’s implementation across four wards.

The council is encouraging more landlords to come forward.

A report presented to the cabinet found the scheme meets the borough’s plan to create a safer Lambeth by 2030.

To achieve this, the council aims to improve the PRS by addressing issues such as criminal landlords and substandard housing conditions, while also providing support to landlords who need assistance.

Around a third of Lambeth’s 144,985 residential dwellings are in the private rented sector – and council data indicates that 9,446 of these properties will have serious safety hazards.

Complaints about anti-social behaviour

Lambeth also says it has received more than 10,000 complaints about anti-social behaviour in the PRS over a three-year period.

A 12-week public consultation on the proposed licensing scheme garnered significant support, with nearly two-thirds of residents and local businesses expressing approval for its implementation.

The scheme is still subject to approval from the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Share This Article