London borough brings in some of the country’s toughest landlord rules

Brent’s licensing schemes now cover all types of HMOs as well as standard rental homes.

Brent Council is warning landlords that, with almost every privately rented home now covered by a licensing scheme, its officers are using data-matching investigations to track down anyone breaking the rules.

The blanket coverage of the borough’s schemes was completed with the addition of its latest HMO licensing scheme on 2 February, which extends regulation to shared homes occupied by three or four people and pulls thousands of smaller properties into scope. Combined with Brent’s existing mandatory and selective licensing schemes, Wembley Park ward is the only exception.

Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson (pictured), Cabinet Member for Housing, says the expanded framework is about enforcing “consistent standards across the private rented sector”.

She told North London News: “Everyone deserves to live in a safe, secure and well-maintained home. With this new scheme now in effect, all landlords in Brent must meet clear legal standards for the letting and management of their properties.”

Brent is one of the leading local authorities in the country for licensing enforcement.”

To enforce all its schemes, rather than relying on complaints as most authorities do, Brent Council has created a central database of ownership and management information. That can be cross-checked against council tax records, housing benefit data and other property datasets to flag addresses likely to be operating as unlicensed rentals. Officers can then target those properties directly.

Fleur Donnelly-Jackson warns: “Brent is one of the leading local authorities in the country for licensing enforcement and any landlord who is not licensed must apply immediately to avoid enforcement action.”

Penalties include prosecution, civil fines of up to £30,000 per offence and rent repayment orders.