Ealing Council consult on extending private landlord licensing for all HMO and all rental properties in five wards

Ealing Council consult on extending private landlord licensing
for all HMO and all rental properties in five wards

Ealing Borough Council have announced a 12 week public consultation on extending two licensing schemes, which will require private landlords to obtain a letting licence from Ealing Council for specific properties. It wishes to introduce additional licences for all Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the Borough – approximately 15,000 properties – and introduce selective licences for all properties let out by private landlords in five wards: Acton Central, East Acton, South Acton, Southall Green and Southall Broadway.

The purpose of the licensing is to raise the quality of housing in areas of poor housing and property management. The licences will require landlords to meet specific safety and management provisions (including for gas, fire safety and electrical facilities), provide written tenancy agreements, and take proactive steps in addressing anti-social behaviour.

The proposed licence fees will be £500 for a selective licence and £1100, plus £30 per habitable room, for an additional licence. Failure to obtain a licence will lead not only to prosecution and fines but may also prevent the landlord from taking court proceedings to obtain a possession order against a tenant – following the service of a Notice Requiring Possession under Section 21 Housing Act 1988 – where the property is not licensed when it should be. Landlords will have to provide details of their licence in any possession proceedings claim form for the court to issue the claim. A significant number of other London councils have introduced similar licensing schemes.Jeremy-Teall

The consultation period runs from 11th January 2016 to 3rd April 2016 and those wishing to make representations are invited to visit the council’s website at www.ealing.gov.uk/prslicensing.

 

Aisha_AkhtarIf you have any queries concerning the matters raised please contact
Jeremy Teall, Partner and Housing Management Team Leader on
020 8567 3477 or e-mail jteall@prince-evans.co.uk 

or Aisha Akhtar, Solicitor on
020 8799 1884 | e-mail aakhtar@prince-evans.co.uk.