Green light for property licensing scheme renewal in Waltham Forest

Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 - London Borough of Waltham Forest

At a Cabinet Meeting on 9 July 2024, Waltham Forest Council decided to renew their additional and selective licensing schemes. 

New additional licensing scheme

The council’s existing borough wide additional licensing scheme ends on 31 March 2025. 

The new scheme designation will come into force on 1 April 2025 and continue for another five years. The scheme will include most Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) that are not already licensable under the mandatory HMO licensing scheme. 

New selective licensing scheme

The council’s existing selective licensing scheme that covers most of the borough ends on 30 April 2025.

Whilst the Cabinet have approved a replacement selective licensing in principle, current rules mean it cannot be introduced without government approval. The council is seeking approval to renew the scheme borough wide except for the wards of Hatch Lane & Highams Park North and Endlebury.

This is likely to be one of the first schemes to be decided since the new Labour government was elected. Whilst nothing is certain, the government may decide to change the rules so larger selective licensing schemes no longer require government approval.

Subject to government approval, the council want the new selective licensing scheme to start on 1 May 2025.

A free guide containing more information about property licensing and HMO planning restriction in the London Borough of Waltham Forest is available here.

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