Your local licensing update for July

This month two major licensing schemes came into force in Birmingham.

One, a selective licensing scheme, impacts 25 of Birmingham’s 69 wards, while the additional HMO licensing scheme that has been introduced is a borough-wide designation.

Though both of the schemes have already started, the city council said it will start to enforce the new schemes only from 4th September 2023, in order to give landlords time to apply for a licence. You can learn more about these schemes here.

In London, a new additional HMO licensing scheme also started in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at the start of June.

In terms of new schemes on the horizon, the NRLA has received notice that a new additional HMO licensing scheme has been given the go ahead in Worcester. The new scheme will start on 6th September 2023, in the following wards:

Battenhall, Claines, Gorse Hill, Nunnery, Rainbow Hill, St Peters, St Stephens, Warndon, Warndon Parish North, Warndon Parish South.

Five other wards in Worcester are already subject to a separate Additional HMO licensing scheme.

The new scheme will run separately to the existing one, meaning they have different end dates. Landlords can read more about additional HMO licensing in Worcester on the council’s website.

In Redbridge, a new additional HMO licensing scheme will come into force on 18th September 2023.

It will extend licensing to all HMOs in the borough.  And staying in London, another new licensing scheme will be introduced in Brent in the summer. Landlords with rental properties in the wards of Dollis Hill, Harlesden and Kensal Green, and Willesden Green will be legally required to have a licence from August 1.

In June, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities also published updated guidance for local authorities on selective licensing.  

The NRLA aims to respond to all property licensing consultations, and members can learn more about effectively responding to consultations in our free Licensing Toolkit.

The best way to keep up to date with licensing news and consultation information is by signing up to NRLA Licesning Support, a free member benefit, powered by our partner, Kamma Data.

Using Kamma, you can keep up to date with licensing regulations for up to 16 properties. Read the latest licensing update from Kamma by clicking here.