Lambeth Council has ignored landlord protests to launch its new selective licencing scheme but backtracked on many onerous conditions.

Landlords now need a licence to legally let any property to a single-family household or no more than two unrelated sharers in the Knights Hill, Streatham Common & Vale, Streatham Hill East, and Streatham St Leonards wards.

However, following the town hall's (pictured) consultation the authority has amended 10 conditions and removed 13, such as making landlords carry out adequate checks and obtain satisfactory proof that occupiers belong to a single household.

Other conditions taken out include getting landlords to put a clause in a written statement of occupation stipulating that any prospective tenant should disclose unspent criminal convictions, ensuring all means of escape from fire are accessible and maintained, and producing a written action plan outlining procedures for dealing with anti-social behaviour.

Plenty of criticism

Lambeth’s consultation suggested that almost two-thirds of residents and local businesses approved of the proposals – which will cost landlords £923 for a licence – but the plan also attracted plenty of criticism. One respondent said: “Anti-social behaviour, poor standard of properties, disrepair, are all common in council owned properties. Perhaps you should licence yourselves instead?”

About a third of the 144,985 residential properties in Lambeth are in the PRS with more than 9,446 predicted to have a serious home hazard. The council has also received over 10,000 complaints of ASB-related incidents in the PRS over a three-year period.

Poor conditions

Councillor Mahamed Hashi (pictured) cabinet member for safer communities, says there are some landlords who take advantage of their tenants or don’t know what their responsibilities are, leaving too many people living in poor conditions or having to deal with the problems caused by overcrowding.

He adds: “This licensing scheme will help us tackle these problems head-on – as well as cracking down on rogue landlords.”

The council will now consider rolling the scheme out to a further 19 wards.