Calling all Landlords in Redbridge

Calling all Landlords in Redbridge

Have you checked to see if your property needs a licence?

Disrepair, electrical hazards, blocked fire escape routes, unsafe stairwell for children, lack of fire precautions, a few of the hazards enforcement officers have encountered with landlords operating without a property licence in the borough.

Since January 2021 we have issued 38 civil penalty fines to rogue landlords for health and safety hazard offences associated with a range of issues relating to disrepair, inadequate fire protection, overcrowding, poorly managed waste arrangements to 12 to landlords operating without a licence which put tenants at risk. This has resulted in estimated fines totaling over £170,000.

The London Borough of Redbridge currently operates two licensing schemes for properties in the Private Rental Sector.

These two schemes are:

• Mandatory House of Multiple Occupation (HMO): These are properties that are rented to five or more people forming two or more un-related households, sharing facilities.
• Selective Scheme: These are properties that are rented out in designated ward areas within Redbridge that do not fit the criteria of a Mandatory HMO licence

 Why are we licensing?

The Council has seen an increase in poor housing conditions, fly tipping and anti-social behaviour in the local community. By licensing, we are ensuring that landlords comply with the Housing Act 2004 Part 2 and 3 and provide decent homes for tenants in the private rental sector. Property licensing has been proven to drive up the living standards for tenants in the private rental sector.

Landlords can check to see if their property requires a license by visiting the licensing map here, to apply for a property licence including payment of the licence fee, online via website here.

Councillor Vanisha Solanki, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness said, “The licensing of properties plays a major role in helping to improve the quality of homes the private rental sector.

Most of our landlords are following the rules, but for those that aren’t, we encourage you to come forward and license your property to avoid receiving a potential fine”.