A Labour council is warning landlords to get licensing or face hefty fines or prosecution. 

Brent council in north London says it is actively enforcing a licensing scheme which applies across the entire borough with the exception of one ward, Wembley Park.

In a statement the council even claims the scheme will “build on Brent’s positive relationships with private landlords.”

Councillor Muhammed Butt, the authority’s leader, says: “We have received more than eight thousand applications, but we know that there are still several thousand more applications that have not yet been made.

“Our message is clear to those landlords who have not yet applied for their license: your time is running out. Our enforcement team will find you if you choose to ignore the law, and breaking the law could cost you up to £30,000 in fines and a prosecution as well.”

Last year the council issued its first banning order against a landlord, preventing him from letting houses in England for five years. Brent has licensed more HMOs  than any other London borough and claims to have one of the most proactive enforcement teams in the capital.