Views wanted on extension plans for successful landlord scheme

Havering Council has begun a consultation looking at extending the successful Landlord Licensing Scheme.

Since the current HMO Landlord Licensing Scheme was launched in March 2018, enforcement action in the last 12 months has included:

• 133 Financial Penalty Notices issued to unlicensed HMOs
• 23 notices have been served warning landlords to improve standards
• 27 multi-agency enforcement operations have taken place
• 206 HMO licences have been issued.

Plans to expand the scheme from the current 12 wards would see regulation of local housing in multiple occupancy (HMOs) rolled out to a further six wards in the borough, covering Cranham, Emerson Park, Hacton, Hylands, St Andrew’s and Upminster.

The proposals will also consider looking at introducing a selective licensing scheme to cover single family properties in Romford Town and Brookland wards only.

Views are being sought from residents, including those who are landlords, residents, tenants, letting and managing agents plus businesses, as the Council looks to extend a scheme to:

• help private rented properties offer residents a choice of safe, quality and well-managed accommodation
• reduce anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector
• further increase enforcement action on landlords that operate below-standard and unlicensed properties
• continue to provide support to landlords who meet requirements and already provide good quality accommodation and service.

The consultation runs until Monday 16 September.

Have your say

There is also a chance to attend events where details on the consultation are available for residents and landlords, with an opportunity to ask questions.

The events are as follows:

•  Wednesday 3 July,  2pm-4pm, Upminster Library, 26 Corbets Tey Road, RM14 2BB (Residents/tenants)
•  Wednesday 3 July, 5.30pm-7.30pm, Upminster Library, 26 Corbets Tey Road, RM14 2BB (Residents/tenants)
•  Thursday 4 July, 2pm-4pm, Town Hall, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BB (Landlords, letting and managing agents)
•  Thursday 4 July, 5.30pm-7.30pm, Town Hall, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BB (Landlords, letting and managing agents)
•  Tuesday 20 August, 2pm-4pm, Town Hall, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BB (Residents/tenants)
•  Tuesday 20 August, 5.30pm-7.30pm, Town Hall, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BB (Residents)
•  Wednesday  4 September, 2pm-4pm, Town Hall, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BB (Landlords, letting and managing agents)
•  Wednesday 4 September, 5.30pm-7.30pm, Town Hall, Main Road, RM1 3BB (Landlords, letting and managing agents)

Councillor Viddy Persaud, Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Safety, said:

“After the successful launch of this scheme, this consultation will give us a chance to get views from residents, including those who are landlords not covered by the scheme. This is so we can see if by extending the scheme to other areas, it will help us increase protection to tenants, support landlords and further support our aim of tackling poor management, overcrowding and anti-social behaviour.”