News
Have your say on plans for new property licensing schemes in Barnet
Barnet Council has launched a public consultation on plans to introduce two new property licensing schemes.
From 5 July 2016 to 4 July 2021, Barnet Council operated a borough wide additional licensing scheme. The licence scheme applied to most Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) occupied by four or more people on two or more storeys, plus some ‘section 257 HMOs’ (read here).
The council say that these new licensing schemes are a way to ensure safer and better conditions in private rented properties that will enable residents to live in a healthy, safe, and thriving borough.
The plans published by the council include:
- Renewing the borough-wide additional licensing scheme and expanding the licensing criteria to include most HMOs occupied by three or more people regardless of the number of storeys.
- Introducing a selective licensing scheme covering all private rented properties in the council wards of Burn Oak, Colindale North, Colindale South, West Hendon, Cricklewood, Childs Hill, Golders Green, Hendon and Edgware. The scheme will be based on new ward boundaries to be introduced in May 2022.
Licence application fees
Barnet Council is proposing a selective licensing fee of £750 or £754 per property for single family lets and properties shared by two unrelated people (both figures are quoted in the consultation report).
The proposed five year additional licence fee for an HMO containing up to five lettings is £1,404.02, with a lower fee for a one year licence.
A 10% discount off the part 1 fee is proposed for accredited landlords. This equates to a saving of about £65 on each additional licence and £38 on each selective licence.
Tell the council what you think
Before any decisions are made, Barnet Council is running a public consultation which closes on 28 October 2021.
Many people will be affected by the proposed changes, including tenants, landlords, letting and managing agents, and residents. The council wants to hear from all interested parties.
You can find out more information and take part in the consultation on the council’s website.
A free guide containing more detailed information about property licensing and HMO planning rules in the London Borough of Barnet is available here.
For all the latest news and events, you can sign up for the free London Property Licensing newsletter here.
