Landlords with properties in the Havering area have until January 24 to submit a selective licence application, giving them a 50 per cent discount.

This means the charge will drop from £900 to £450 a property, lasting five years; the full figure becomes effective from the next day, January 25. 

This follows the recent decision by the authority to extend its landlord licensing. 

The scheme which currently covers 12 wards will be rolled out to a further six wards in the borough – Cranham, Emerson Park, Hacton, Hylands, St Andrew’s and Upminster. 

A consultation was held in September last year to get views on the extension and selective licensing.

As is usual in the case of licensing schemes, the council claims this one will improve choice for tenants, secure “a choice of safe, quality and well-managed accommodation”, reduce anti-social behaviour, and fund an increase in enforcement activities.

Since the introduction of the current scheme, which regulates HMOs, was launched in March 2018, enforcement action has include £417,500 worth of fixed penalty notices and 314 HMO licences issued to landlords.

A council spokesman 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.”