All private landlords in Brent are now legally required to hold a property licence in a move that places letting agents and portfolio operators under immediate compliance pressure.
From the beginning of this month a new additional licensing scheme for smaller houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) has come into force, meaning every privately rented property in the borough must be licensed. The only exemption applies to single-household homes in Wembley Park.
The change closes what had been a gap in coverage. Larger HMOs were already subject to mandatory licensing, while single-let properties required a selective licence.
The new scheme extends controls to smaller HMOs with three or four occupiers from two or more households, including certain section 257 HMOs and qualifying properties in purpose-built blocks.
ENFORCEMENT ACTION
For letting agents, the implications are immediate. Agents managing unlicensed stock risk facilitating unlawful lettings, exposing landlords – and potentially themselves – to enforcement action. Councils can impose civil penalties of up to £30,000 per offence, pursue prosecution, issue rent repayment orders and block future lettings.
Brent has made clear it intends to enforce aggressively. Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing (main picture, inset), says: “Everyone deserves to live in a safe, secure and well-maintained home. With this new scheme now in effect, all landlords in Brent must meet clear legal standards for the letting and management of their properties, ensuring consistent standards across the private rented sector.
“Landlords operating without a licence are breaking the law.”
“Landlords operating without a licence are breaking the law. Our enforcement team is actively working across the borough, using intelligence-led investigations and data analysis to identify those who are failing to comply.
“Brent is one of the leading local authorities in the country for licensing enforcement and any landlord who is not licensed must apply immediately to avoid enforcement action.”
THREE SCHEMES
The borough now operates three parallel schemes – mandatory HMO, additional HMO and selective licensing – creating a compliance landscape that agents will need to navigate carefully across mixed portfolios.
The move comes as councils prepare for expanded powers under the Renters’ Rights Act, signalling a tougher enforcement environment.
