Harrow council is consulting agents, landlords and residents on a proposal to renew its licensing regime applying to selected Houses in Multiple Occupation in the borough. 

The council also licenses properties which have been converted after 1991 into self contained units as defined under s257 of the Housing Act 2004 – the authority wants to renew the licensing system on these units, too.

As with so many past licensing authorities, Harrow says its objective in operating a licensing regime is to regulate properties, improve housing stock and reduce anti-social behaviour, noise and other environmental nuisance. “The Council notes that these issues are only associated with a small minority of landlords and tenants but considers that an appropriate licensing regime, coupled with an understanding of acceptable conduct standards, can have a major impact on these wider issues” the authority says. 

The consultation runs until August 14 and seeks to continue the current costs – landlords must now pay a fee of £1,250 for each property for five years.