Your licensing update for January

This month, the NRLA publicly revealed new figures showing that it would take Liverpool City Council nearly 150 years to process applications for its selective licensing scheme.

The selective licensing scheme came into force earlier this year. Instead of a blanket policy, the NRLA is calling for the local authority to use the data it already has to root out the minority of criminal landlords and improve housing standards.

Elsewhere this month, a borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme has been given the go ahead in Charnwood in Leicestershire. It will come into force on 1st April 2023, and will last for five years. Landlords with a HMO in Charnwood can apply for a licence directly on the council’s website from February 2023.

The Secretary of State for DLUHC also gave the green light for a new licensing scheme in Newham this month. The five-year selective licensing scheme will commence on 1st June 2023. More information about this selective licensing designation is available on the council's website.

Current licensing consultations

The NRLA aims to respond to all licensing consultations. Take a look below at some current property licensing consultations:

Brent: selective licensing (Closes 23 January)

In the London Borough of Brent, a select licensing scheme for privately rented properties in the wards of Dudden Hill, Kilburn, Queens Park, Kensal Green and Mapesbury is currently in force. This scheme is set to expire in May next year, and the council has launched a consultation on a new scheme to replace the current one. Have your say on the plans here.

Royal Borough of Greenwich: Selective Licensing (Closes 23 January)

An additional HMO licensing scheme expired in the Royal London Borough of Greenwich in September 2022, and now the Council has launched a fresh consultation on plans to introduce a new scheme for another five years. If approved, the new scheme would start in April 2023. Have your say on the plans in the consultation here.

Middlesborough (Closes 30th January )

Middlesborough Council is consulting on plans to extend a licensing scheme in parts of the Newport Ward. Currently, selective licensing is in place in North Ormesby and part of Newport ward. The council now proposes to extend the scheme so that it applies to more of Newport Ward. Landlords can learn more about the plans and reply to the consultation directly.

Redbridge selective licensing consultation (Closes 31st January)

Redbridge Council is seeking the views of landlords on plans to renew a selective licensing scheme in 18 wards across the borough. Have your say on the plans here.

More information

This is not an exhaustive list. Make sure you are registered with NRLA Licensing Support, powered by Kamma Data for all the latest information. Read an update from Kamma here.

If you need assistance when it comes to responding to a consultation, you can learn more in our licensing toolkit, exclusive for NRLA members. The toolkit will help you understand the many definitions associated with licensing and Article 4 directions, and how to respond to consultations. Take a look here