News
New landlord licensing consultation underway in Bexley
Residents, landlords, tenants and local businesses are being asked for their views on Bexley Council’s proposal to introduce new ‘Rent it Right’ property licensing schemes in the borough.
The consultation starts starts today (20 November 2017) and runs until 31 January 2018.
The proposals include a borough-wide additional licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and selective licensing schemes for all private rented properties in four defined areas in the north of the borough:
- Thamesmead North;
- Abbey Wood/Lower Belvedere;
- Erith; and
- Manor Road.
Maps of each area together with a postcode search facility are available on the council’s website to check which properties are included.
It is estimated the additional licensing scheme will cover approximately 1,200 properties while a further 2,900 properties will need licensing under the selective licensing scheme.
This latest consultation follows on from a ‘listening and engagement exercise’ conducted by Bexley Council in 2016 and earlier this year, as previously reported on the London Property Licensing website (read here). The council have reflected on the feedback received and fine tuned their proposals.
Licensing application fees to be collected in two installments
The council is proposing to charge the licence application fee in two installments. An initial payment of £265 will cover the processing of all selective and additional licence applications and is non refundable.
For selective licences, the second installment will be £425, reduced to £106 during the proposed three month early bird discount period. For additional licences, the second installment will be £180 per letting, reduced to £115 per letting during the proposed three month early bird discount period.
Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Cllr Brad Smith, Bexley Council said:
“These schemes are likely to affect lots of people living and working in Bexley: whether they are residents living near houses in multiple occupation or privately rented houses, or tenants or landlords.
“The proposals are designed to help address the kind of anti-social behaviour that areas with high numbers of privately rented properties can sometimes see, as well as protecting tenants and driving up standards in the local rental market. We hope that our landlords will welcome the extra support the scheme will bring and that tenants can also see the possible advantages of renting from a licensed business.
“The consultation is available online and we also have two property licensing forums in January where anyone can come along and have their say. We need as many people as possible to take part in the survey and let us know what they think about the licensing plans. Please spread the word and pass details of this consultation to anyone who lives, works, rents or owns a property in Bexley.“
The two property licensing forums open to everyone are:
11 January 2018 – 1pm to 4pm at Belvedere Community Centre, Mitchell Close, Belvedere, DA17 6AA
17 January 2018 – 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Civic Offices, 2 Watling St, Bexleyheath DA6 7AT
The council are also hosting a series of roadshows around the Borough to promote the scheme, with details to be found on the council’s website.
Full details of the scheme and how to take part in the consultation are at www.bexley.gov.uk/rentitright or call 020 3045 3456.
Our free guide to property licensing requirements in Bexley is available here.
For all the latest news and events, you can sign up for the free London Property Licensing newsletter here.
