Your licensing update for January 2024

New licensing schemes have been announced in Peterborough and Brent this month. Policy officer Samantha Watkin looks at what the  new schemes will entail and ongoing licensing consulations in your area.
 
Peterborough City Council 

After consulting on plans earlier on this year, the Secretary of State has now approved Peterborough City Council’s Selective Licensing scheme which will come into effect 11th March 2024.  

The scheme covers the following wards:  

  • Central 

  • North 

  • East 

  • Park 

  • Breton 

  • Fleton and Stanground 

  • Fleton and Woodston 

  • Paston and Walton 

  • Stanground South 

  • Orton Waterville 

A privately rented property could fall under the Selective Licensing Scheme if there is a single occupant, more than one occupant who forms one household (for example a family) or two unrelated individuals who form two households (e.g. two friends).

Earlybird fee  

The council is charging £608 for a selective licence if landlords apply within 30 days of the designation becoming operational. Applications submitted after this will be charged £908 per licence.  
 
All landlords, managing agents or tenants within the designated areas should obtain advice to ascertain whether their property is affected by the designation  at: www.peterborough.gov.uk/selectivelicensing  or by email to: [email protected]  

London Borough of Brent  
 
After consulting on plans earlier on this year, the Secretary of State has now approved Brent’s new Selective Licensing which will come into force 1st April 2024.  
 
The designation applies to 18 wards in the borough, including:  

  • Alperton 

  • Barnhill  

  • Brondesbury Park  

  • Cricklewood & Mapesbury  

  • Kenton  

  • Kilburn  

  • Kingsbury  

  • Northwick Park 

  • Preston  

  • Queens Park 

  • Queensbury  

  • Roundwood 

  • Stonebridge 

  • Sudbury  

  • Tokyngton 

  • Welsh Harp  

  • Wembley Central  

  • Wembley Hill  
     

Licence fees for a Selective Licence are set at £640, with discounts available for membership of the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme. Further information on the new scheme and how to apply for a licence can be found on the council’s website: https://www.brent.gov.uk/housing/landlords/notice-of-designation-of-an-area-for-selective-licensing-2-2023  
 
Blackpool Council 

The council's current consultation on introducing further Selective Licensing in the borough is closing soon. The proposal is to introduce a Selective Licensing scheme to cover eight of Blackpool’s most deprived wards: 

  • Warbreck 

  • Talbot 

  • Brunswick 

  • Claremont 

  • Bloomfield 

  • Tyldesley 

  • Victoria 

  • Waterloo 

This area would cover around 11,000 private rented properties, accounting for around 70% of Blackpool's private rented sector.  The consultation has run for nearly 10 weeks and will close on Sunday 7th January 2024. Landlords can read more about the proposals and submit their responses on the council’s website: https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Your-Council/Have-your-say/Consultations/Consultations-and-other-engagement.aspx  

 
Stockton on Tees Council  
 
Stockton on Tees Council is currently consultating on a proposed new Selective Licensing scheme covering three areas:  
 

  • Central Stockton  

  • North Thornaby  

  • Newtown  

The consultation will close on Friday 19th January 2024. The council has stated that the areas proposed all have very high concentrations of private rented housing, are likely to become areas of low housing demand and are experiencing high levels of deprivation.

Newtown in particular it states is experiencing significant and persistent problems caused by high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour.  
 
The proposed standard licence fee is £653, with discounts available for being a member of a recognised accreditation scheme, including the NRLA. Further information about the proposals and how to submit a consultation response can be found on the council’s website: https://www.stockton.gov.uk/selective-licensing-scheme-2023  

More information

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