A council led by a residents’ association has stated that many landlords “already do the right thing” – but are still going to have to pay for a new licensing scheme.
Havering council will introduce a new selective licensing scheme for privately rented homes, and claims it will “ensure safer, better-quality accommodation for private renting tenants in parts of the borough.“
The new scheme, which will cover seven wards, will be in place from March 2026 and will apply to all privately rented properties that are not already subject to mandatory or additional HMO licensing.
The introduction of this expanded scheme follows the expiry of the current selective licensing scheme, which has been in force across three wards and is due to end this month.
Alongside the new selective scheme, Havering will also introduce a borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme from March this year. This will replace the existing additional HMO scheme, which currently covers six wards and remains in place until January 2026.
Council leader Ray Morgon says: “Our priority is to help protect residents and support responsible landlords. We have some of the highest levels of private renting compared to other London boroughs.
“These licensing schemes will help us raise standards, tackle poor property management, and ensure that everyone in Havering has access to safe, secure and well-maintained homes.
“Many landlords already do the right thing, but this licensing helps create a level playing field by targeting those who do not. We want those landlords who don’t comply, to know we will take the strongest action against them.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today