News
Green light for Ealing’s largest private rented property licensing scheme
The government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has approved Ealing Council’s plan to introduce a new private rented property licensing scheme across the borough.
Ealing Council already operates a borough wide additional licensing scheme plus a selective licensing scheme (designation 1) in the three wards of East Acton, Southall Broadway and Southall Green (based on pre-May 2022 ward boundaries).
The new, larger selective licensing scheme (designation 2) will apply to the 12 wards of Acton Central, Dormers Wells, Greenford Broadway, Greenford Green, Hanger Hill, Hobbayne, Lady Margaret, North Greenford, Northolt Mandeville, Northolt West End, Perivale and South Acton (based on pre-May 2022 ward boundaries).
The new selective licensing scheme, which is set to be the largest of its kind in west London, will come into force on 3 January 2023.
Although the scheme was approved by the council’s cabinet earlier this year, its size and scope meant that government approval was also required. The new scheme equates to more than 50% of the overall size of the borough and nearly half of all privately rented homes in Ealing.
A smaller selective licensing scheme came into force in three wards in the borough in April this year. The new scheme will apply to all privately let properties in a further 12 wards. You can use a postcode search facility on the council’s website to check if your private rented property needs licensing.
With the proportion of the borough’s homes in the private rented sector increasing by 65% in the last 10 years, the council has committed to ensuring that private renters have access to safe, secure and decent homes.
Landlords are being urged to submit applications from 3 January to 3 April 2023 to take advantage of a 25% discount on the standard £750 licence fee, in addition to further reductions for accredited landlords.
Councillor Shital Manro, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for good growth said:
“The current cost of living crisis means that supporting our most vulnerable residents has never been more important. Although the overwhelming majority of landlords in Ealing are decent, law-abiding people, private rented property licensing offers us a means of tackling the minority who aren’t.
“This is our largest and most ambitious property licensing scheme to date, and it demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting landlords while taking a strong approach to tackling poor property conditions. It will foster greater security for landlords and tenants alike in this vital housing sector.“
You can find out more about private rented property licensing in Ealing by visiting www.ealing.gov.uk/prslicensing.
Our free guide containing more information about property licensing and HMO planning restrictions in the London Borough of Ealing is available here.
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