Waltham Forest Council are consulting on plans to renew their additional and selective landlord licensing schemes

Monday, February 19th, 2024 - Waltham Forest Council

Waltham Forest Council currently operates two property licensing schemes. The selective licensing scheme is due to end in April 2025 and the additional HMO licensing scheme is due to end in March 2025. 

With the licensing schemes due to end soon, the council are consulting on proposals to renew both licensing schemes. 

Proposed new additional licensing scheme

The council are proposing a new borough wide additional licensing scheme which we understand would extend licensing to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) that are not already licensable under the mandatory HMO licensing scheme. 

Subject to approval by councillors, the scheme would start on 1 April 2025 and continue for a further five years. 

The council intend to increase their additional licence application fee from £1,000 to £1,200 per property, an increase of 20%. Some fee discounts would apply.

Proposed new selective licensing scheme

The council are proposing a new selective licensing scheme across 20 of the 22 wards in the borough. It would exclude the council wards of Endlebury and Hatch Lane and Highams Park North. 

The scheme would extend licensing to include most privately rented homes that are rented to a single household or no more than two unrelated people.

Subject to government approval, the scheme would start on 1 May 2025 and continue for a further five years. 

The council intend to increase their selective licence application fee from £700 to £895 per property, an increase of 28%. Some fee discounts would apply.

How to take part

The licensing consultation is underway from Friday 15 December 2023 to Sunday 10 March 2024.

More information about the proposals and how to take part in the consultation can be found on the council’s website. 

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

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