Two more London boroughs are consulting about licensing schemes which will require landlords or their agents to pay hundreds of pounds to councils. 

Lewisham council – which already has substantial licensing of HMOs – says it is now proposing selective licensing in three areas covering 16 of the 18 wards in the borough. 

Its justification is set out in the consultation document which says: “Our assessment has shown areas in Lewisham suffer from high levels of deprivation, high and repeat anti-social behaviour and poor housing conditions linked to privately rented properties.” 

It goes on to say: “By localising the introduction of private rental licensing, the council can use its extended powers to focus on some of the issues that we know have a detrimental effect on the areas and the lives of people who live there, whether they are in private rental properties or not. There is a significant cost to the council, local businesses, landlords and tenants in managing these issues. They cause a decline in the environment, impact community wellbeing and make these areas less attractive places to live, work and invest. The introduction of a property licensing scheme will provide tenants with a greater choice of safe, good quality and well-managed accommodation.”

Lewisham’s selective licensing will cost £640 for five years for each property.

The consultation runs until May 10.

Meanwhile nearby Greenwich council wants to licence all privately-rented homes in parts of Woolwich, Plumstead and Shooters Hill – a proposal to start official consultation was agreed by councillors last week. 

Each selective license will cost £780, again for five years.

Councillors claim the areas set out for the scheme have a large concentration of private rented homes and substantial anti-social behaviour.“The scheme will ensure that the council is able to improve housing conditions for private tenants in those areas and deal with the consequences and outcomes of poorly managed properties” says a paper put to senior councillors by officers.