Labour council’s rental licensing scheme will be one of UK’s largest

A Labour-run London council is consulting on a new licensing scheme for private rented property. 

If it goes ahead it will be one of the largest in the UK.

With an increasing number of households in Lambeth living in private rented homes, the council claims a licensing scheme “will help to improve housing conditions, and eliminate poor standards for private renters.”

In 2021, the council introduced a borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme and now wants all rental properties - not just Houses in Multiple Occupation - to be licensed across all of Lambeth’s 23 wards.

A council spokesperson says: “We have already taken significant action to tackle poor standards in the private rented sector, and although most landlords operating in Lambeth provide our residents with decent, well managed and safe homes, we continue to uncover renters living in hazardous and unacceptable conditions.

“We are focussed on improving health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities for people in Lambeth. That’s why we have launched our consultation on the private rented property sector as part of our commitment to addressing these issues.

“It’s important that we hear from everyone who may be affected by our proposals. We know that many of our residents are feeling the pressures of the current cost of living crisis and supporting our most vulnerable residents is a number one priority for all of us in Lambeth. 

“That’s why we want to ensure that as many as possible have the chance to take part, share their views and comment on our proposals, and we are providing many different ways to engage with the consultation.”

If it gets the go ahead Lambeth’s scheme  will come into effect in two phases, the first from September 2024, followed by a larger area later in 2025.