Recommendations to introduce property licensing schemes

Recommendations to introduce 2 new property licensing schemes will be discussed at the Housing & New Homes Committee on 13 March.

If agreed, the council will bring in a new Additional Licensing Scheme for smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and a Selective Licensing Scheme for all private rented homes in 4 wards later this year.

The reports follow consultations on the scheme, which ran between 4 October 2023 and 3 January 2024 and included a number of in-person workshops.

Responses to the consultation showed broad agreement from residents to both schemes, while landlords and agents generally disagreed.

Private sector licensing gives councils the ability to set conditions on property management and maintenance standards and allows enforcement action to be taken where requirements aren’t met.

The aim is to drive improvement in conditions and management standards in the city’s expanding private rented housing sector, with nearly a third of households in the city renting privately.

While many landlords run their properties responsibly, issues reported through the council show that management, standards and quality of private rented aren’t consistent.

Mandatory licensing covers all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) that accommodate 5 people or more over 2 households or more.

Additional and selective licensing are schemes local authorities can introduce to address issues such as poor management standards and poor property conditions.

Additional HMO Licensing

The proposed Additional Licensing Scheme would cover smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), with fewer households than Mandatory Licensed HMOs.

If agreed, we estimate the Additional HMO Licensing Scheme across the city would cover around 2,200 properties.

The aim would be to introduce the scheme in the summer, with the 3 month notice period beginning in the spring.

The previous 5 year term of the city-wide Additional HMO Licensing Scheme came to an end last year.

This additional licensing scheme covered around 1,900 HMOs across the city, and allowed us to work closely with landlords to improve properties.

A number of licence conditions were set through the scheme, resulting in improvements made to management, building and safety standards that benefitted around 5,500 tenants.

Selective Licensing

The proposed Selective Licensing Scheme would initially cover the Kemptown, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queens Park and Whitehawk & Marina wards, where evidence demonstrates a clear link between poor property conditions, deprivation and private rented homes.

If the Selective Licensing is agreed in these 4 wards, we anticipate the scheme will be introduced in the autumn and cover around 2,100 private rented homes. The 3 month notice period for implementation would begin in the summer.

The proposal also covers the option of introducing a further Selective Licensing Scheme covering 13 wards in the city on the grounds of poor property conditions.

These wards are Brunswick & Adelaide, Central Hove, Goldsmid, Hanover & Elm Grove, Hollingdean & Fiveways, Preston Park, Regency, Rottingdean & West Saltdean, Round Hill, South Portslade, West Hill & North Laine, Westbourne & Poets Corner and Wish.

A scheme in these wards would be subject to approval by the Secretary of State. If agreed, the proposal would be to seek Secretary of State approval 6 months after the launch of the initial scheme to allow time to carry out the preparation work required.

Improving private rented homes

Councillor Gill Williams, chair of the Housing & New Homes Committee, said: “Improving homes across the city is a key part of our plans for a better Brighton & Hove, and private rented accommodation is an important part of the city’s housing mix and can provide people with flexible and decent homes.

“But we often hear from residents about their poor experiences and know the quality of management and maintenance is inconsistent.

“We want to raise standards in privately rented homes in the city to make sure that all tenants in the sector live in safe, healthy and well-managed homes.

“The proposed licensing schemes aim to help tackle the problem of landlords who fail to manage and maintain their properties.

“The benefits are multiple. It leads to better managed, safer and fit to occupy properties for tenants and reduces levels of deprivation for the wider community.

“It also supports our work to prevent homelessness through reducing abrupt end of tenancies through early intervention and dialogue.

“They can also benefit landlords by putting us in a better position to help them improve and maintain their properties. It isn’t just about dealing with problem landlords.”

More information

Designation notices

The designation notices for both schemes are now published:

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