Lambeth launches new licensing scheme to boost housing quality

From September 2, landlords will need a licence to legally let any property to a single-family household or no more than two unrelated sharers, in four specified wards.

The selective licensing scheme was 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 means landlords will need a licence and meet the conditions associated to legally let qualifying properties in “Selective Licensing Designation 1”: Knights Hill, Streatham Common & Vale, Streatham Hill East, and Streatham St Leonards. Cabinet members have also agreed to consider spreading the benefits to householders throughout Lambeth in the future, by rolling the scheme out to a further 19 wards.

Word from the Cabinet

Cllr Mahamed Hashi, Cabinet member for Safer Communities, said Lambeth was one of the most deprived boroughs in London in terms of housing affordability, overcrowding and homelessness.

He added: “Residents who can’t access social housing and aren’t able to purchase their own property often find that renting privately is their only option, and most landlords provide good quality, safe accommodation.

“But there are some who take advantage of their tenants or don’t know what their responsibilities are, leaving too many people living in poor conditions or having to deal with the problems caused by overcrowding.

“This licensing scheme will help us tackle these problems head-on – as well as cracking down on rogue landlords, making sure that all privately-rented properties meet the standards we demand.”

A report presented to the Cabinet said the scheme was also in line with the council’s Borough Plan commitment to make Lambeth a place we can all call home.

It added: “In terms of the PRS [Private Rented Sector], this includes not only tackling rogue landlords, tackling property conditions but also supporting good landlords and tenants that need assistance. Selective Licensing is one mechanism that can be used to achieve these objectives.”

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.