Your licensing blog for January
In our licensing blog this month, we round up all the latest licensing consultations and how to respond, as well as full details of all the new schemes coming into force.
Active consultations
London Borough of Hillingdon
Hillingdon Council is consulting on introducing a new borough wide HMO licensing scheme. The proposed licence fee is £1,401, with discounts available for accredited landlords. For further details, click here.
The consultation closes on 11th January 2026, with further information about the proposals and how to submit feedback on the council’s website or by emailing [email protected]
London Borough of Croydon
Croydon Council is consulting on introducing a new selective licensing scheme and an additional licensing scheme. The selective licensing scheme would cover 14 wards and the additional licensing scheme will be applied borough-wide.
The proposed selective licensing fee is £800, and the proposed additional licensing fee is £1,250. Discounts are available for both schemes for accredited landlords. For further details, click here.
The consultation closes next week, on 12th January . Further information about the scheme and how to respond can be found on the council’s website or by emailing [email protected]
Oxford City Council - Additional Licensing
Oxford City Council is consulting on plans to renew its additional licensing scheme. The current scheme ends 30th June . The proposed licence fee starts at £356, with discounts for accredited landlords.
The consultation closes on 23rd January 2026. Further information about the proposals and how to respond can be found on the council’s website or by emailing [email protected]
Schemes coming into force
Woking Borough Council - Additional Licensing
The council has confirmed that a borough wide additional licensing scheme has come into force this week and will end on 4th January 2031.
The licence fee is £830, plus an additional £10 for each room which is let as a bedroom. There are discounts available for accredited landlords, registered charities, and not-for-profit organisations, subject to conditions.
Further information about the scheme and how to apply can be found on the council’s website or by emailing [email protected]
Leeds City Council - Selective Licensing
The council has confirmed that a multiple ward selective licensing scheme will come into force on 9th February and end on 8th February 2031.
The scheme will cover:
- Armley
- Beeston & Holbeck
- Burmantofts & Richmond Hill
- Gipton & Harehills
- Hunslet & Riverside
- Farnley & Wortley
The licence fee is £1,100, with discounts available for members of the Leeds Rental Standard.
Further information about the scheme is available on the council’s website or by emailing [email protected] and telephone: 0113 535 1369
Peterborough City Council - Additional Licensing
The council has confirmed that a city-wide additional licensing scheme will come into force on 26th January, ending on 25th January 2031.
The licence fee is set at £1,100. Home Safe is overseeing the administration of the scheme; therefore, licence holders will need to apply directly to Home Safe via its website when the licence application process opens later this year.
Further information about the scheme and how to apply can be found on the council’s website and via Home Safe’s email address: [email protected] or by emailing [email protected]
London Borough of Brent - Additional Licensing
The council has confirmed following consultation that a borough-wide additional licensing scheme will come into force on 2nd February ending on 1st February 2031.
The licence fee is £840, with discounts available for members of the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme.
Further information about the scheme can be found on the council’s website or by emailing [email protected]
Thurrock Council - Selective Licensing
The council has confirmed that a multiple ward selective licensing scheme has come into force this week, endng on 4th January 2031.
The scheme will cover 16 wards with alicence fee of £1,034.90. Further information about the scheme and how to apply can be found on the council’s website.
Islington Council - Additional Licensing
The council has confirmed that a borough wide additional licensing scheme will come into force on 1st February 2026, ending on 31st January 2031.
The licence fee starts at £335 per bedroom, with discounts available for accredited landlords.
Further information about the scheme and how to apply can be found on the council’s website or by emailing [email protected] or by calling 020 7527 3205
Reading Borough Council - Additional Licensing
The council has confirmed that a borough-wide additional licensing scheme will come into force on 1st March, ending on 28th February 2031.
The licence fee is being finalised, but the council expects it to be the same or similar to its mandatory licensing fee, which is £950 per licence.
Further information about the scheme and how to apply can be found on the council’s website or by emailing [email protected]
Rotherham Borough Council - Selective Licensing
The council has confirmed that a selective licensing scheme will come into force on 15th February 2026, ending on 14th February, 2031.
The designation covers parts of six areas:
- Town Centre/Eastwood/Clifton/Boston Castle
- Masbrough/Kimberworth
- Thurcroft
- Dinnington
- Brinswort
- Parkgate
The licence fee is £975, with discounts available for landlords who received ‘better property rebates’ in the 2020 to 2025 selective licensing scheme and submit a fully completed application within 90 days of the property becoming licensable.
Further information about the scheme can be found at the council’s website or by emailing [email protected] or calling 01709 822620.
London Borough of Hackney - Selective and Additional Licensing
The council has confirmed that a borough-wide additional licensing scheme and a selective licensing scheme covering 17 wards will come into force on 1st May.
The licence fee is £925 for selective licensing and £1,400 for additional licensing. Further information about the scheme can be found on the council’s website.
