The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has approved a London council’s plan to introduce a new private rented property licensing scheme across the borough.

The new selective licensing scheme in Ealing which is set to be the largest of its kind in west London, will come into force on January 3 2023.

Although the scheme was approved by the council’s cabinet earlier this year, its size and scope meant that government approval was also required. The new scheme equates to more than 50 per cent of the overall size of the borough and nearly half of all privately rented homes in Ealing.

A smaller selective licensing scheme came into force in three wards in the borough in April this year. The new scheme will apply to all privately let properties in a further 12 wards. The proportion of the borough’s homes in the private rented sector increasing by 65 per cent in the last 10 years.

There’s a 25 per cent discount on the licence fee for landlords who submit applications fbetween January 3 and April 3 next year, in addition to further reductions for accredited landlords.  

An Ealing council spokesperson says: “The current cost of living crisis means that supporting our most vulnerable residents has never been more important. Although the overwhelming majority of landlords in Ealing are decent, law-abiding people, private rented property licensing offers us a means of tackling the minority who aren’t.

“This is our largest and most ambitious property licensing scheme to date, and it demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting landlords while taking a strong approach to tackling poor property conditions. It will foster greater security for landlords and tenants alike in this vital housing sector.”