Consultation on licensing privately rented properties in Ealing

This consultation closed on 16 August 2021.

The consultation

The private rented sector (PRS) in Ealing has an important role in meeting housing needs in the borough. Most privately rented flats and houses are in good condition and well managed but some are not. There are also properties in the borough that are owned and managed by rogue landlords operating outside the law. The council is looking to address this issue and improve the overall standard of privately rented homes in the borough by renewing its private property licensing schemes under the Housing Act 2004.

Licensing the Private Rented Sector

Currently, there is the mandatory licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) which generally applies to all HMOs that are occupied by five or more people, forming two or more households.   Mandatory HMO licensing applies nationwide and is in force indefinitely. 

The council also operates additional HMO licensing boroughwide, plus a selective licensing scheme applicable to all privately rented homes in the wards of Acton Central, East Acton, South Acton, Southall Broadway and Southall Green.  However, both of these schemes end on 31 December 2021.

What happens next?

Following a public consultation earlier this year and approval by cabinet in December 2021, Ealing Council has agreed to introduce a new boroughwide additional HMO licensing scheme.

The council has also agreed to introduce a new selective licencing scheme in three selected wards of the borough (East Acton, Southall Broadway and Southall Green). You can check which ward you live in.

These schemes have been introduced to continue to help improve standards in the borough’s private rented sector.

The public notices detailing the two schemes have been published on the council website.

The new schemes will both come into force on 1 April 2022 for a five year period. This will make it a legal requirement for landlords to obtain a licence to operate most types of houses in multiple oc-cupation (HMO) anywhere in Ealing, or to let a home in East Acton, Southall Broadway and Southall Green. The additional licensing fee is £1,100 for each HMO plus £50 for each habitable room. The selective licensing fee is £750.   

Applications can be made from 1 April 2022 and further information on how to apply will be made available on the Council’s website in due course.  Those who apply for a licence between 1 April and 1 July 2022 may be eligible to receive a 25% early bird discount and save themselves hundreds of pounds. Those who are already members of a recognised landlord’s accreditation scheme (LLAS, NRLA, UKAKA, ARLA, RICS and Safeagent) may also qualify for a further discount of £75.

Once the schemes are in force failure to obtain a licence may result in prosecution and an unlimited fine. As an alternative to prosecution, the Council may impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000. 
 

Further information

For any queries regarding the property licensing schemes please email: PRSlicensing@ealing.gov.uk