Fact sheet: Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

Barking and Dagenham Council is set to implement a borough-wide selective licensing scheme, requiring all private rental properties to be licensed from 6 April 2025. The scheme is among the first to leverage a law change introduced by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner at the end of 2024, allowing councils to establish larger licensing schemes without seeking central government approval.

Propertymark has responded to consultations about plans to introduce additional or selective property licensing schemes in Enfield, Reading, and Wandsworth. We have objected to all the proposals because we strongly disagree that licensing is the best method to improve housing stock within the private rented sector (PRS).

On Thursday 2 May 2024, Londoners will cast their votes for the next Mayor and 25 Assembly Members. With a population of over nine million, and the highest house sales and rental values in the country, London presents unique challenges. Propertymark has written to the candidates outlining our housing plan for London, highlighting key priorities for the next four years and our proposals for addressing the city’s crisis in housing availability.

Middlesborough Council who issued the charges has defended it by saying each of the 52 flats in Linthorpe Hall 248 are eligible for the fee under their current selective licensing scheme, which began in 2019.