Lead member Cllr. Southwood, Councillor Eleanor, just wrote about licensing policy which I feel must brings to your notice as well. This is mostly for Landlords and Tenants.
I’m writing to update you on our application to renew our selective licensing scheme in the wards of Wembley Central Harlesden and Willesden Green and to extend the scheme to 10 additional wards.
In response to our pre-Christmas application, Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, has indicated that, at this time, he is not minded to approve the application.
Naturally I’m really disappointed. Since licensing was introduced over 4 years ago, conditions in 4,400 homes have been improved and over 2,200 notices have been served on private landlords. There have been 160 prosecutions resulting in fines and costs totalling £1.5m and Brent set a legal precedent in pursuing one landlord under the proceeds of crime act.
The Government indicated that more evidence would be required before any approval could be secured and Mo, myself and officers are working with them to understand how we can strengthen our case.
The selective scheme still applies in the five wards of Dudden Hill, Kensal Green, Kilburn, Mapesbury and Queens Park, where all privately rented properties still need to be licensed. In time, we will need to apply to Government for permission to renew the scheme in these wards but for now its business as usual.
As always, any shared accommodation throughout the borough where there are three or more tenants living together who are not related – including those with a single tenancy, also needs a license.
Needless to say, our work to keep tenants safe and improve standards in the private rented sector continues. Over 900 Brent landlords have successfully joined the London Landlord’s Accreditation Scheme so far, we offer grants for renovating empty properties and we organise one of the biggest council-run landlord forums in the country.
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