Licensing scheme fees based on landlords’ past performance

A London council is consulting on another controversial landlord licensing scheme.

Barking and Dagenham council’s existing Selective Licensing Scheme has been applied to single-family homes since 2015. Throughout that time, the council has licensed over 17,000 properties and claims to have inspected over 8,000 properties.

Now a replacement Selective Licensing Scheme is being proposed, along with a new Additional Licensing Scheme to cover small HMOs let to two or three people and outside the scope of mandatory licensing.

The council is advertising the cost of licences on its consultation website but is already proposing to offer discounts for landlords based on what it calls “best practice”.

Silver compliance: Satisfactory rating from compliance audit inspection (property meets the standards when inspected). Discount - £200 off the Part B fee for scheme running costs.

Gold compliance award: Accredited landlord and Satisfactory rating from compliance audit inspection (property meets the standards when inspected). Discount - £250 off the Part B fee for scheme running costs.

A council spokesperson says: “Private rented properties have played a growing role in providing homes for our residents over the last decade and we want to make sure that landlords are providing good, quality homes for their tenants.

“These licensing schemes allow us to work closely with landlords to help them improve and maintain their properties as well as take action against anyone who fails to follow the set requirements.

“I’d like to encourage all private sector tenants, landlords, letting agents and everyone else interested to have their say.”

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