News

Redbridge Council launch new selective licensing consultation

Monday, July 25th, 2016 - Redbridge Council

Redbridge Council licensing consultation

Redbridge Council has today (25 July) launched a 12-week consultation on two property licensing schemes for private rented properties in fourteen wards. The Council is seeking views from residents, private tenants, private landlords, businesses and other stakeholders on the proposals.

Redbridge Council wants to use property licensing as a way of protecting residents from anti-social behaviour and ensuring that tenants have access to well managed and safe accommodation.

The first selective licensing scheme would require all privately rented properties in Valentines and Clementswood wards to be licensed, which amounts to 16.5 per cent of the total private rented sector in Redbridge. As this is less than 20 per cent of the borough’s area, it would not require Secretary of State approval.

The second selective licensing scheme would include 12 other wards totalling 62.5 per cent of Redbridge private rented properties and will therefore need Secretary of State approval.

If both schemes are agreed, approximately 79 per cent of the total private rented sector and 60 per cent of the geographical area of the borough will be included.

The second scheme will cover the council wards of: Aldborough, Chadwell, Churchend, Cranbrook, Fairlop, Goodmayes, Loxford, Mayfield, Newbury, Roding, Seven Kings and Snaresbrook.

Introducing a smaller scheme

Following the Secretary of State’s decision last Autumn not to approve the Council’s application for a whole-borough selective licensing scheme (read here), information was taken on board to introduce a smaller scheme. Further analysis of the relevant data at ward level was undertaken and this has shown that 14 wards meet the criteria required to introduce the schemes. These wards were shown to have a high percentage of private rented accommodation as well as significant anti-social behaviour and poor housing conditions.

Wards not included above did not meet all of the criteria required.

Commenting on the scheme, Councillor Farah Hussain, Cabinet Member for Housing said:

The introduction of these licensing schemes will make improvements to the way privately rented properties are managed. I am confident that licensing will reduce the impact poorly managed properties have on neighbours and the local environment. I have seen some of the properties being operated by criminal landlords in the Borough and we will not tolerate this. The schemes will also help us support landlords that offer good quality safe accommodation for their tenants.

Your views are very important to us and we want to hear from as many people as possible regarding these schemes during the consultation period.

The consultation runs from Monday 25 July 2016 to Sunday 16 October 2016.

To find out more about the schemes and to complete the online questionnaire visit www.redbridge.gov.uk/prslicensing

In addition to the questionnaire, Redbridge Council will be holding three public meetings:

  • Tuesday 23 August 5.30pm to 8:30pm at Wanstead Library, Spratt Hall Road, Wanstead, London E11 2RQ
  • Thursday 15 September 5:30pm to 8:30pm at Fullwell Cross Library, 140 High Street, Barkingside IG6 2EA
  • Wednesday 28 September 6pm to 9pm, Seven Kings Library, 679A High Road, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex IG3 8RQ

A dedicated landlord consultation meeting will also take place:

  • Wednesday 10 August 7.30pm to 8.30pm at Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford IG1 1EA

If you are interested in attending the meeting please email your name, address and contact telephone number to PRSLicensing@redbridge.gov.uk

The venue capacity is limited and therefore places will be reserved on a first come first served basis.

After the consultation ends the results and final recommendations will be reported back to Cabinet for a decision.

Information on the current property licensing requirements in Redbridge is available at www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/redbridge.