News
Havering Council is consulting on proposed landlord licensing scheme
A 4-week public consultation is underway in the London Borough of Havering to seek feedback on proposals to introduce additional and selective licensing for private rented homes.
This informal consultation exercise is designed to help develop a final scheme proposal that can be subject to a formal 10-week consultation exercise later in the year.
Havering additional licensing scheme
The council is seeking views on two proposals:
1. To introduce a borough wide additional licensing scheme for all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). This would include all houses and flats shared by three or more people who are not all related, bedsits and certain buildings converted into self-contained flats (so called section 257 HMOs); or
2. To introduce an additional licensing scheme for all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) that are located within the wards of Gooshays, Heaton, Brooklands and Romford Town.
The proposed licence application fee is £900 per property, with a £100 discount for applications submitted online.
The council say that the designation would be used as a tool to improve the management of HMOs and tackle anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector.
Havering selective licensing scheme
The council is seeking views on two proposals:
1. To introduce a selective licensing scheme covering the Harold Hill area, made up of around half of Gooshays and Heaton wards; and
2. To introduce a selective licensing scheme covering the Romford area, made up of most of Brooklands ward and about 30% of Romford Town ward.
The council say that these two areas would cover about 19% of all private rented homes in the borough.
The proposed licence application fee is £600 per property, with a £100 discount for applications submitted online.
The council say that the designation would be used as a tool to tackle anti-social behaviour and high levels of crime in these areas through improving the quality of the management of rented accommodation, and also to tackle deprivation.
The consultation exercise is being carried out from 20 January to 17 February 2017 and more information is available at www.havering.gov.uk/consultations.
A couple of drop in sessions are being help in February 2017, which can be found listed in our events guide.
Once the consultation has been completed, it is anticipated the council will analyse the results before finalising their proposal and undertaking a more formal consultation over at least 10-weeks later in the year.
For more information of property licensing in Havering, you can also visit www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/havering.
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