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Last chance to participate in Westminster City Council’s selective landlord licensing consultation

Monday, January 13th, 2025 - Westminster City Council

Westminster City Council is inviting tenants, landlords, property agents and anyone with experience or an interest in the private rented housing sector to have their say on the council’s proposals to introduce a new property licensing scheme in parts of the city.

The scheme, if approved, would extend licensing to all private rented properties in fifteen wards across the borough. The purpose of the scheme is to ensure all homes in Westminster are safe, in good condition and well managed, helping to create a fairer private rented housing sector.

According to the council over 1,600 preliminary improvement notices, 1,369 formal notices served and 49 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued in 2023/04 which resulted in serious (category 1) hazards being removed from 278 private rented homes. Five landlords have also been prosecuted for various housing offences.

Councillor Matt Noble, Westminster’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Renters, said:

The private rented housing sector continues to grow, and in Westminster, we have the largest private rented sector in the country. 

With the ongoing national housing crisis, an increased shortage of social housing and home ownership unobtainable for many, private rented housing is often the only viable option.

We want to ensure that all private rented properties are operating legally and, above all else, safe. 

Before any decisions are made, we need the views of everyone in the borough, especially those that live in a private rented home.

Subject to approval, Westminster’s proposed selective licensing scheme could come into force later this year. Before any decisions are made, the council must consider the feedback received through the consultation process. To date, the council have received hundreds of responses, but they are keen to hear from more people.

Learning about the experiences and views of people living, working or studying near private rented homes is important to find out where change is needed. The council are also keen to hear from organisations that regularly work with anyone living in private rented housing, who have knowledge of the conditions that families and individuals living in the sector are experiencing.

The consultation runs until 19 January 2025, and everyone can share their views by visiting www.westminster.gov.uk/prs.

Paper copies are available at libraries throughout the city and can be requested by emailing propertylicensing@westminster.gov.uk or calling 020 7641 6161.

Our free guide containing more information about property licensing and HMO planning restriction in Westminster is available here.

For all the latest news and events, you can sign up for the free London Property Licensing newsletter here.