Your licensing update for October
In our licensing blog this month, we round up all the latest licensing consultations and share details on how to respond, as well as outlining new schemes coming into force across the country.
Current consultations
Royal Borough of Greenwich – Selective Licensing
The council is currently proposing to introduce a selective licensing scheme covering 18 wards, which would replace the smaller scheme which is currently in force.
The proposed licence fee is £974 per property, with discounts available for accredited landlords. The consultation closes 12th October. Further information about the proposals and how to respond can be found on the council’s website.
Preston City Council – Selective Licensing
The council is currently consulting on plans to introduce a new selective licensing scheme for three wards in the city. The proposed affected wards are the city centre, St Matthew’s and Plungington.
The proposed licence fee is £1,050 per property.
The consultation closes 11th October. Further information about the scheme and how to submit feedback on the proposals can be found on the council’s website.
Burnley Borough Council - Selective Licensing
The council is currently consulting on plans to redesignate and/or introduce a selective licensing scheme for three areas of the borough:
The proposed licence fee will depend on certain criteria being met; whether the licence holder has been previously issued a licence and if they are accredited under the Council’s Good Landlord and Agent Scheme.
- Previous licence holders who are accredited will see fees of £610.40 per property.
- Unaccredited landlords who were previously issued a licence have fees of £692.
- Those who have never held a licence and are accredited will see an initial fee of £667.80 (and £610.40 per additional property).
- Unaccredited landlords who have not been issued a licence before will see an initial fee of £774 (and £692 per additional property).
A further discount of £100 is available if your completed application is submitted within the first six weeks of the scheme (applying to the first application only).
The consultation closes on 18th October. Further information about the scheme and how to submit feedback to the proposals can be found on the council’s website.
North Yorkshire Council (Scarborough) – Selective Licensing
The council is consulting on plans to renew and expand its selective licensing scheme for a further five years from May 2027.
The proposals include extending the scheme to include all properties on Valley Road and Esplanade Gardens, and a revised licence fee.
The proposed licence fee is £750 for the first licenced property, and £150 for each additional property owned by the same landlord. A £100 discount is proposed where the landlord remains the same and the property details have not changed.
The consultation closes on 12th October. Further information about the scheme and how to submit feedback can be found on the council’s website.
Halton Borough Council – Selective Licensing
The council is currently consulting on plans to introduce a Selective Licensing scheme in four wards and one Lower Layer Super Output Ares (LSOA) in the borough. LSOAs are areas smaller than wards that have high level of PRS homes. These are the proposed areas:
- Central and West Bank ward
- Appleton ward
- Mersey and Weston ward
- Bridgewater ward
- LSOA E01012379 in Highfield
The proposed licence fee is £685 per property for the full licence period of five years. The Council also proposes a £100 discount to applicants who are accredited members of the NRLA. The consultation closes on Sunday 18th October 2026. Further information about the scheme and how to submit feedback can be found on the council’s website.
Schemes coming into force include
Brighton & Hove City Council – Selective Licensing
The council has confirmed a small-scale selective licensing scheme will come into force on 20th October this year, ending on 19th October, 2031. The scheme will cover Central Hove and Regency wards.
The licence fee is £740 per property, with discounts available for being accredited with the NRLA and if the property’s EPC rating is C or above.
Further information about the scheme and how to apply can be found on the council’s website.
Salford City Council – Additional Licensing
The council has confirmed that the city-wide additional licensing scheme for Section 257 HMOs will start on 24th November this year and end on 24th November 2031.
Fees for the scheme vary dependent on HMO size, accreditation and when the licence is sought. The lowest fee available is £1,284.36, with the highest at £1,991.65.
Further information about the scheme and how to apply can be found on the council’s website.
East Staffordshire Borough Council – Selective Licensing
Following a consultation, the council has confirmed a street-by-street selective licensing will come into force on 1st January next year, ending on 31st December 2031.
The scheme will apply to the following streets:
- Anglesey Road
- Byrkley Street
- Belvedere Road
- Calais Road
- Derby Street
- Edward Street
- High Street
- Horninglow Road
- Horninglow Road North
- Oak Street
- Princess Street
- Shobnall Road
- Thornley Street
- Victoria Crescent
- Wetmore Road
- Wyggeston Street
The licence fee is £700 per property, with discounts available for accreditation, early bird applications and multiple property applications.
Further information can be found on the council’s website.
Medway Borough Council – Selective and Additional Licensing
Following a consultation, the council has approved selective and additional licensing schemes for parts of the borough. Both schemes will come into force on 4th January 2027, ending on 3rd January 2032.
The selective licensing scheme will apply to the following wards:
- Chatham Central and Brompton
- Fort Pitt
- Gillingham North
- Gillingham South
- Luton
- Strood North and Frindsbury
- Watling
The additional licensing scheme will apply to the following wards:
- Chatham Central and Brompton
- Fort Pitt
- Gillingham North
- Gillingham South
- Luton
- Watling
The licence fee for a selective licence is £840 and £1,600 for an additional licence, with discounts available for accreditation, charity and multiple property applications.
Further information about the scheme can be found on the council’s website.
