Lambeth agrees to extend new licensing scheme to improve housing standards across the borough

Councillors gave the green light for the extension of the “selective licensing scheme”, designed to tackle rogue landlords and improve conditions for people living in private rented accommodation, at a meeting this week.

It means the scheme will cover 23 of Lambeth’s 25 electoral wards, subject to approval from the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

The scheme requires landlords to have a licence to legally let to a single-family household or no more than two unrelated sharers. Selective licensing was originally approved by Lambeth’s Cabinet in May, in a bid to improve property conditions and management, and tackle problems including anti-social behaviour (ASB) and deprivation.

It was introduced in September in “Selective Licensing Designation 1”: Knights Hill, Streatham Common & Vale, Streatham Hill East, and Streatham St Leonards.

At a Lambeth Cabinet meeting on Monday, councillors were told that over a thousand landlords had applied for a licence in the first month in the four wards – but the council was urging more to sign up.

Word from the Cabinet

Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Mahamed Hashi, 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.

“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.”

A report presented to the Cabinet said the scheme was also in line with the council’s Borough Plan commitments “to ensuring that Lambeth is a borough that is fit for the future, that people want to call home and is one of the safest boroughs in London by 2030”.

It added: “This requires the Council to initiate improvements that ensure behavioural changes that can improve the local environment, where people live and residents experience. In terms of the private rented sector, this includes not only tackling rogue landlords, tackling property conditions but also assisting those that need help.”

Around a third of the 144,985 residential dwellings in Lambeth are in the Private Rented Sector, and official data has shown that over 9,446 of these are predicted to have a serious home hazard. The council has also received over 10,000 complaints of ASB-related incidents in the PRS over a three-year period.

Responses received during a 12-week consultation on the proposals suggested that almost two-thirds of residents and local businesses approved of the proposals for introducing licensing in the first four wards – and the 19 earmarked in the second phase.

Each licence will cost £923, covering the cost of administering the licence over a five-year period, and managing and enforcing the licensing regime.