Landlord licensing scheme rejected for Redbridge.

In June this year Redbridge Council approved borough-wide landlord licensing, approval to implement this scheme was then requested from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Following widespread opposition from landlords, Redbridge Renters  started its own campaign urging tenants to share their experiences to bolster its support for licensing, at that time the group highlighted the fact that private renters in the borough were suffering with sky-high rents, substandard properties and landlords who fail to meet their responsibilities.

A spokesman for the group at the time reportedly said: “We wholeheartedly support the council proposals – renters need local authorities to be active in preventing housing exploitation.

“Housing scarcity and insecure tenancies place landlords in a hugely dominant position over renters – and many landlords exploit that position.”

The plans to introduce landlord licences in the borough has now been rejected by  the Secretary of State.

Redbridge Council leader Cllr Jas Athwal reportedly said: “We are extremely disappointed, that despite evidence provided, our application has been turned down to allow us to implement a borough-wide scheme for private property licensing.

“We strongly believe that a borough-wide scheme is vital to hold landlords to account for the actions of their tenants including noise, rubbish and vandalism and other anti-social behaviour related to some private rented properties.”

“Without a borough-wide scheme it will be impossible for us to readily identify who is responsible for a property and deal proactively with poor standards of rented accommodation. Sadly, we will now have to go back to the drawing board and consider our options.”

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

DIY Due Diligence: Essential House Checks to Conduct Before You Buy!

Before making an offer on a house, conducting simple checks can save time and money. These checks help identify potential problems that may not be visible during a casual viewing.  Performing DIY due diligence ensures that buyers are informed and can negotiate effectively. A thorough inspection of the property’s condition is essential. This may include…
Read More
Breaking News

Inheritance Tax raises £7 billion in 10 months

Inheritance tax receipts hit £7 billion in the ten months from April 2024 to January 2025, according to figures released by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) this morning. This is £700 million higher than the same ten months last year and continues the upward trajectory over the last two decades. HMRC raised £7.499 billion in…
Read More
Breaking News

Decline in small house builders continues, warns FMB

New figures for planning applications in 2024, published by the Government today show worrying signs that, despite the push to boost house building rates, permissions granted to small sites of 9 units or fewer are down, demonstrating the smallest house builders are struggling to get homes delivered, warns the FMB. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the…
Read More
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England decision to maintain interest rates at 4.5% – Thoughts from the Industry

With the Bank of England decision to maintain interest rates at 4.5% here are some thoughts from the Industry Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgage expert: “Now that this expected interest rate hold is out of the way, all eyes are on May’s decision where the current forecast is a second cut of the year. Since the…
Read More
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Rightmove – Cheapest mortgage rate is now a 2-year fixed

The lowest available mortgage rate is now a 2-year fixed rate, for those with a 40% deposit. Commenting more widely on mortgage trends, Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgage expert says: “Average mortgage rates at the top-end of the market have fallen more quickly than for those with the smallest deposits over the past year. Someone with a…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Halifax House Price Index March 2025 – Thoughts from the Industry

The latest Halifax data shows that bigger homes driving house price growth as flats lag behind. Here are some thoughts from the Industry. Toby Leek, President of NAEA Propertymark, the professional body for estate agents: “Not only are buyers looking to take advantage of easing interest rates to secure a bigger home, but other trends,…
Read More