Enfield Council is launching a public consultation on the new supplementary landlord licensing scheme

Thursday 18 July 2024 – London Borough of Enfield

Enfield Council has launched a public consultation on proposals to renew the property licensing scheme for small, shared houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

The council wants to hear the views and feedback of residents, tenants, landlords, business owners and anyone else with an interest in the private rented sector in Enfield before making its decision.

The council is committed to its vision of more and better homes for Enfield. To support this vision, the proposed licensing scheme, if approved, will help improve living conditions and standards for HMO tenants.

In 2020 the Council introduced an additional HMO licensing scheme to improve property conditions, safety and management standards. The current scheme applies to shared houses and bedsits that do not fall within the remit of the national HMO compulsory licensing scheme. The current scheme ends in August 2025.

Since the additional licenses were introduced, the council says it has seen improvements in the quality and safety of HMOs. They have granted over 1,000 HMO licences, issued over 100 civil financial penalties for offenses committed by HMO landlords and prosecuted 13 HMO landlords.

Enfield Council says there is still more to do to ensure improved HMO property standards and better protection for private tenants. The Council therefore wants to continue the good work that has been done so far and propose a new supplementary HMO licensing scheme from 1 September 2025.

Cllr Susan Erbil, Enfield Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, said:

“Enfield, like the rest of London, is in the midst of a housing crisis. With record numbers of people living in temporary housing and a growing number of families in crisis, there is an extreme housing shortage in the neighborhood. We know that it has never been more important for the Council to ensure that HMO properties provide safety and security for all residents.

“Our existing scheme has taken significant steps to tackle poor standards in the private rented sector and we know that many landlords provide well-managed properties that do not cause problems for tenants or the wider community, for which we are grateful. However, Council officers continue to find tenants living in unsuitable and often dangerous conditions; some of these are our most vulnerable residents.

“Supporting our most vulnerable residents is a number one priority for the Council. That’s why we want to make sure as many people as possible have a chance to participate, share their views and comment on our proposals.”

Enfield Council wants to hear from as many people as possible about what they think about the current scheme, the proposed scheme and how these schemes impact or will impact the communities of Enfield. All points of view are important.

You can take part in the consultation by completing an online questionnaire by visiting https://www.enfield.gov.uk/consultations/additional-hmo-licensing

Hard copies can be requested by emailing [email protected], picking one up from any of the four borough hub libraries or calling 020 3821 1761.

The consultation ends on Monday 7 October 2024.

Our free guide with more information on property licenses and HMO planning restrictions in the London Borough of Enfield is available here.

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