Havering council has agreed to the extension of its landlord licensing scheme. 

It currently covers 12 wards and will be rolled out  to a further six – Cranham, Emerson Park, Hacton, Hylands, St Andrew’s and Upminster.

Councillors have also agreed to the introduction of a selective licensing scheme to cover single-family properties in Romford Town and Brooklands wards only.

A consultation was held in September last year to get views on the extension and selective licensing. It will come into force on January 25 and will operate for five years.

Justifications set out by the council follow the lines of many past schemes – that is to ensure “safe, quality and well-managed accommodation”, reduce anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector, and giving “support to landlords who meet requirements and already provide good quality accommodation and service.”

Since the current scheme, which regulates HMOs, was launched in March 2018, it has bagged the council £417,500 in final penalty notices, with 314 HMO licences issued to landlords.

Councillor Viddy Persaud says: “After a consultation last year, there was support to extend this scheme. It means we can further look to help increase protection to tenants, support landlords and further support our aim of tackling poor management, overcrowding and anti-social behaviour.”