Landlords to be hit by extended licensing scheme costing £923

Landlords will be required to buy a £923 licence to rent out properties in certain areas of Lambeth under a new property licensing scheme that has been rolled out across most of the borough after a successful launch in four wards earlier this year.

Councillors gave the go-ahead 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 last 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.

Cllr Mahamed Hashi, 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.

“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.”

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.