News
Two property licensing schemes starting soon in Harrow
Two new property licensing schemes will be starting soon in the London Borough of Harrow.
Harrow Additional Licensing Scheme
At a Cabinet meeting on 29 April 2021, Harrow Council approved plans for a borough wide additional licensing scheme that will extend licensing to all Houses in Multiple Occupation.
The previous additional licensing scheme was introduced on 1 March 2016. The scheme ran for five years and ended on 28 February 2021.
A public consultation on plans to renew the additional licensing scheme took place from 3 September to 12 November 2020. Publicity was limited and London Property Licensing, together with other stakeholders, did not find out about the consultation until after it ended. With only two landlords taking part in the consultation, Harrow Council decided to rerun the consultation (read here).
A second consultation on plans to renew the borough wide additional licensing scheme took place from 15 January to 26 March 2021 and attracted 87 responses. According to the council, the main complaint from landlords opposed to the scheme was that the scheme was another tax on their business, rather than a scheme to ensure safety and good standards in the private rented sector.
Having considered the consultation results, Cabinet approved the new borough wide additional licensing scheme and it comes into force on 6 August 2021.
Wealdstone Selective Licensing Scheme
At a further Cabinet meeting on 27 May 2021, Harrow Council approved plans for a selective licensing scheme that will extend licensing to all private rented properties in Wealdstone ward.
The previous Wealdstone selective licensing scheme was introduced on 1 June 2016. The scheme ran for five years and ended on 31 May 2021.
A public consultation on plans to renew the Wealdstone selective licensing scheme took place from 25 January to 5 April 2021. The consultation attracted 46 responses including 13 people living in the area, 20 tenants and 13 landlords and agents. According to the council, just one third of respondents agreed with the proposed scheme and 20% were opposed.
Having considered the consultation results, Cabinet approved the new borough wide additional licensing scheme and it comes into force on 2 September 2021.
A free guide containing more information about property licensing in the London Borough of Harrow is available here.
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