Following an extensive consultation exercise in 2011-12 Newham is to become the first borough in the country to licence all privately rented properties.
The Mayor and Cabinet member approved the proposals to introduce a borough wide property licensing scheme at a Cabinet meeting on the 21st June 2012.
The proposals require all privately rented properties into the borough to have a licence in order to legally operate.
As part of the publicity campaign for the licensing designations we are writing to all of the key stake holders and respondents to the consultation to inform them of the decision. We have provided further information about the licensing designations in the attached Public Notices.
If you are a landlord/agent/owner or interested party who rents a property to a single family, a tenant or a group of tenants who share the property then you will need to apply for a licence .
You can apply now by visiting www.newham.gov.uk/propertylicensing and if you apply before the 1st January 2013 you will benefit from a discounted fee.
Failure to apply for a licence before the 1st January 2013 will be an offence and may lead to legal enforcement action being taken and landlords could face fines of up to £20,000.
London Borough of Newham
DESIGNATION OF AN AREA FOR ADDITIONAL LICENSING
Section 56, Housing Act 2004
The London Borough of Newham (“Council”) in exercise of its powers under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004 (“the Act”) has on 21st June 2012 designated an area in its district, as delineated in red on map 1 (a), as subject to Additional licensing. The designation applies to all houses in multiple occupation (“HMOs”) that are privately rented and occupied under a tenancy or a licence unless it an HMO that is subject to mandatory licensing under section 55(2) of the Act or is subject to any statutory exemption. This also HMO’s located in the existing selective licensing designation cited as the London Borough of Newham Designation for an Area for Selective Licensing No1 2009.
The Designation shall come into force on the 1st January 2013and shall cease to have effect on 1st January 2013 and shall cease to have effect on 31st December 2017. The Designation falls within a description of designations for which the Secretary of State has issued a General Approval dated 30th March 2010.
If you are a landlord, managing agent, or a tenant, or if you require any further information regarding this designation , further information and assistance is available from the Council’s Private Housing Team by telephone on 02033731950 or online at www.newham.gov.uk/propertylicensing, or by email: propertylicensing@newham.go.uk or writing to Private Housing, London Borough of Newham, 3rd Floor West Wing, Newham Dockside, 1000 Dockside road, London, E16 2QU. The designation may be inspected at the above address during office hours.
All landlords, managing agents, or tenants within the designated area should obtain advice to ascertain whether their property is affected by the Designation by contacting the Council’s Private Housing Team.
Upon the designation coming into force on 1st January 2013 any person who operates a licensable property without a licence, or allows a licensed property to be occupied by more households or persons than as authorised by a licence, is liable to prosecution and upon summary conviction is liable to a maximum fine of £20,000. A person who breaches a condition of a licence is liable upon summary conviction to a maximum fine of £5000.