Barking and Dagenham is to go ahead with an HMO licensing extension in January and has asked the government to approve a new selective scheme.

An additional borough-wide scheme will cover smaller HMOs from the new year, while plans for a selective scheme to replace its previous one which ended in August have now been approved by the council’s assembly. Due to its scale, the authority has applied to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and anticipates launching in early 2025.

Fresh approach

It is proposing a “fresh, more targeted multi-designation approach to selective licensing” and explains that “by grouping neighbourhoods based on their pertinent issues, we can effectively deploy our resources to tackle the varying levels of anti-social behaviour, poor housing conditions, and deprivation across the borough”.

The selective scheme is set to cost landlords £950 and the additional scheme, £1,400. However, fees will be automatically discounted by up to £250 for those demonstrating best practice.

The move follows a consultation on both schemes earlier this year when 55% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that all HMOs should be subject to property licensing, regardless of size. The report says between 2021 and 2023, more than 6,500 inspections of privately rented homes were carried out across the borough where officers discovered 57% contained one or more Category 1 or 2 hazards - more than double the national average.

Councillor Syed Ghani (pictured), cabinet member for enforcement and community safety, believes the additional HMO licensing scheme will provide reassurance and support for private tenants.

He adds: “This scheme will allow us to ensure that landlords are providing quality homes for their tenants and also give us the means to tackle rogue landlords.”

The additional scheme will launch across Barking and Dagenham on 9th January.