A Labour council spokesperson has accused rogue landlords of letting down the area’s 100,000 private renters. 

A selective licensing scheme is now in operation in 23 of Lambeth’s 25 electoral wards, as part of what Lambeth council describes as a drive to raise housing standards, tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce overcrowding in private rented accommodation.

Landlords will now need to have a licence to legally let to a single-family household or no more than two unrelated sharers, in every part of Lambeth apart from the Vauxhall and Waterloo & South Bank wards. Failure to licence a licensable property is a criminal offence and landlords who fail to get a licence can face a fine of up to £30,000. If they were prosecuted and convicted, the courts could impose an unlimited fine.

A council spokesperson says: “For too long, nearly 100,000 private renters in Lambeth have been let down by rogue landlords, left in damp, cold and unsafe flats, unsuitable for families and young people.

“But … we’re changing that with our New Licensing Scheme – raising housing standards, tackling anti-social behaviour and reducing overcrowding. This gives you more security, more rights, and more power to demand the decent homes you deserve.”

Around a third of the 144,985 residential dwellings in Lambeth are in the Private Rented Sector, and official data has shown that over 9,446 of these are predicted to have a serious home hazard. The council has also received over 10,000 complaints of ASB-related incidents in the PRS over a three-year period.

Each licence will cost £923, covering the cost of administering the licence over a five-year period, and managing and enforcing the licensing regime.

—————