The selective licensing team licences family and singly occupied houses and flats and checks landlords are providing safe properties and complying with the conditions on their licence.
The HMO licensing team licences houses in multiple occupation (HMO's). There are two licence schemes: Additional and Mandatory licensing.
Here is a snapshot of the work done by the Selective, Additional and Mandatory licensing teams:
Selective Licensing
- Applications received to 31 January 2025 – 13,703
- Number of draft licences issued to 31 January 2025 – 7,158
- Number of final licences issued to 31 January 2025 – 5,094
In January 2025 the team have completed:
- 233- Properties inspected
- 109- Property improvements
HMO Licensing
Mandatory and Additional applications received since April 2024:
- Draft licences issued - 932
- Final licences issued – 776
Since April 2024 the team have completed:
- HMO Visits - 425
- Financial Penalties- 16
- HMOs Improvements - 624
During a recent inspection we came across a rotten, broken garden fence that was dangerous. Using the licence conditions the team worked with the landlord to repair the fence, making the garden safer for the tenants.
One licence condition requires the licence holder to ensure the exterior of the property is maintained in good repair (not just the inside of the house).
This includes maintaining, in a good condition, gardens, guttering, paths, driveways and yards etc. They shouldn't have a detrimental impact on the neighbourhood.
Inspecting the property at least every 6 months is one way to be able to keep a check on maintenance and repair items.
The Renters Rights Bill continues it's passage through Parliament. It is due back in the House of Lords this week.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions for new and existing tenancies, extend Awaab’s Law into the private rented sector and end blanket bans for those on benefits or with children.
As a reminder, some aspects of the proposed legislation are below.
No-fault evictions banned
The Bill will abolish Section 21 evictions for both new and existing tenancies at the same time, meaning landlords will need to provide a valid cause to end a tenancy early. Landlords will still be able to evict tenants if they have a legal reason, such as if the tenant is in several months' rent arrears or commits anti-social behaviour.
Ban on mid-tenancy rent increases
The bill will also ban rent increases being written into contracts to prevent mid-tenancy hikes, leaving landlords only able to raise rent once a year at the market rate.
Tenancy reform
The bill will remove fixed-term assured tenancies, which mean renters are obliged to pay rent regardless of whether a property is up-to-standard and prevent them from easily moving out in response to changing circumstances, such as a relationship breakdown or new job.
Instead, all tenancies will be periodic, with tenants able to stay in their home until they decide to end the tenancy by giving 2 months' notice.
When a landlord's circumstance changes, such as their need to sell up or move into the property, they will have to give four months' notice instead of two.
All renters will get a 12-month protected period at the beginning of a tenancy, during which landlords cannot evict them on these grounds.
It also features changes and updates to:
- Decent Homes standard
- Home health rules to tighten
- Ombudsman
- Bidding wars crackdown
- Awaab's law extended
- Ban on benefit discrimination
- Allowing pets
More information here Guide to the Renters’ Rights Bill - GOV.UK
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