Your licensing blog for August
In our licensing blog this month, we round up all the latest licensing consultations and share details on how to respond to them, as well as outlining new schemes coming into force across the country.
Durham County Council – Selective Licensing
The council is consulting on renewing its selective licensing scheme, due to end in March 2027. The proposed scheme aims to cover 20,000 properties in the private rented sector (PRS).
The proposed licence fee is £550 for an early bird application, or £700 for a standard application received six months after the scheme starts.
The consultation closes 12 August. Further information about the proposals and how to submit feedback can be found on the council’s website.
Liverpool City Council – Selective Licensing
The council is consulting on renewing its existing selective licensing scheme for the city, with three options under consideration:
- A city-wide designation based on evidence relating to low housing demand and the potential for neighbourhood decline
- A targeted designation focused on areas where evidence demonstrates high levels of deprivation and where licensing could contribute towards improving housing management, neighbourhoods and wider outcomes for residents
- A targeted designation focused on areas experiencing significant poor housing conditions within the private rented sector, building on the approach used in the current scheme
The proposed fee structure varies depending on the criteria that applies to the property. Licence fees start at £453 and go up to £995 per licence.
The consultation closes 5 October. For further information about the proposals and to submit feedback, see the council’s website.
London Borough of Barnet – Selective Licensing
The council is consulting on introducing a selective licensing scheme in 10 wards in the borough: Burnt Oak, Childs Hill, Colindale North, Colindale South, Cricklewood, Finchley Church End, Friern Barnet, Golders Green, Hendon, and West Hendon.
The proposed licence fee is £910 or £928, subject to inflation, which the council will consider in due course. Discounts are available for accredited landlords.
The consultation closes 15 September.
London Borough of Ealing – Additional Licensing
The council is consulting on renewing and updating its additional licensing scheme for the borough. The proposed scheme would have possible Section 257 coverage, which would include certain buildings converted into self-contained flats that did not meet relevant building standards.
The proposed licence is £1,300 per licence, and £1,100 for Section 257 HMOs. Discounts are available for accreditation and for properties with an EPC rating of C or above.
The consultation closes 24 September.
Slough Borough Council – Selective and Additional Licensing
The council is consulting on introducing borough-wide selective and additional licensing schemes. The proposed additional licensing scheme would also include Section 257 HMOs, converted buildings of self-contained flats where the conversion did not comply with building standards in place at the time, and still does not.
The proposed selective licensing fee is £750 per licence, and £950 for an additional licence.
The consultation closes 23 September.
Royal Borough of Greenwich – Selective Licensing
The council is proposing to introduce a selective licensing scheme covering 18 wards, replacing the current, smaller scheme in force.
The proposed licence fee is £974 per property, with discounts available for accreditation.
The consultation closes 12 October.
Preston City Council – Selective Licensing
The council is consulting on plans to introduce a new selective licensing scheme for three wards in the city: City Centre, St Matthew's and Plungington.
The proposed licence fee is £1,050 per property.
The consultation closes 11 October.
Schemes coming into force
Westminster City Council – Additional Licensing
The council has confirmed its borough-wide additional licensing scheme will be renewed, coming into force on 31 August and ending on 30 August 2031.
The licence fee is £1,540 per licence. Discounts are available for accredited landlords. Existing additional HMO licences will remain valid until their individual expiry dates, and landlords can submit renewal applications up to three months before this date. Applications for new licences may be made now.
London Borough of Hillingdon – Additional Licensing
The council has confirmed that, following consultation, a borough-wide additional licensing scheme will come into force on 24 August, ending on 23 August 2031. Section 257 HMOs are excluded from the scheme; these are properties that have been converted into flats and where two thirds of the flats are owner-occupied, or where the conversion did not comply with the relevant building regulations at the time, and still doesn't.
The licence fee is £1,401 per property, with the application process open.
London Borough of Croydon – Selective and Additional Licensing
Following consultation, the council has approved a borough-wide additional licensing scheme and a selective licensing scheme covering part of the borough.
Areas covered by the selective licensing scheme are: Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Fairfield, Norbury and Pollards Hill, Norbury Park, Selhurst, South Croydon, South Norwood, Thornton Heath, Waddon, West Thornton, and Woodside.
The licence fee is £1,250 for an additional licence and £800 for a selective licence. Discounts are available for accredited landlords.
Both schemes come into force on 25 September. More information on how to apply for licences will be available this summer.
London Borough of Enfield – Selective Licensing
Following consultation, the council has renewed its selective licensing scheme, which will come into force on 1 September and end on 31 August 2031, split into two designations coming into force on the same date:
Designation One: Bowes, Brimsdown, Bullsmoor, Carterhatch, Edmonton Green, Enfield Lock, Haselbury, Jubilee, Lower Edmonton, Ponders End, Southbury, Upper Edmonton, and Whitewebbs.
Designation Two: New Southgate, Palmers Green, and Southgate Town.
The licence fee is £750 per property. Current selective licences will remain in force until their existing expiry date.
Gloucester City Council – Additional Licensing
Following consultation, Gloucester City Council has confirmed that a city-wide additional licensing scheme will come into force on 21 September and end on 20 September 2031.
There is an early bird additional licensing fee of £1,060 for applications received before 21 September. Applications received after this date will be £1,260 per licence.
Telford & Wrekin Borough Council – Additional Licensing
The council has confirmed that a borough-wide additional licensing scheme will come into force on 25 August and end on 24 August 2031.
The licence fee is £1,522 per licence, with a 10% early bird price reduction available for valid applications submitted up until 24 August.
Brighton & Hove City Council – Selective Licensing
The council has confirmed a small-scale selective licensing scheme covering Central Hove and Regency wards, coming into force on 20 October and ending on 19 October 2031.
The licence fee is £740 per licence, with discounts available for landlords accredited with the NRLA and for properties with an EPC rating of C or above.
