The Royal Borough of Greenwich has launched a consultation on plans to extend selective licensing across as much as 70% of the borough.
Its existing scheme, introduced in October 2022, covers five wards and requires landlords letting privately rented properties within the designated areas to obtain a council licence.
Greenwich – home to the famous Cutty Sark (main picture) – is now considering a replacement scheme covering up to 18 wards. A council review has identified 12 additional wards where officials believe selective licensing may be justified by problems including poor housing conditions and property-related antisocial behaviour.
Licensing conditions can require landlords to maintain appropriate safety and management standards. The council can also inspect licensed homes for hazards such as damp, mould and fire-safety failings.
HAZARDS IDENTIFIED
Greenwich says that it inspected 622 licensed properties between January 2025 and the launch of the consultation, helping landlords address 2,103 identified hazards.
Councillor Joshua Ayodele (main picture, inset), Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Integrated Enforcement at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, says: “We believe residents who rent privately should live in safe, well-managed and high-quality homes. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
“A recent review has identified 12 additional wards we believe should be covered by the selective licensing scheme. While most landlords provide good-quality homes, evidence shows a proportion of properties in the proposed areas are poorly maintained or badly managed.”
LANDLORD SUPPORT
He adds: “Your views and experiences will help refine our proposal to ensure responsible landlords are supported, every renter can feel proud of their home, and rogue or criminal landlords and agents are identified and removed from the sector.
“This consultation is on top of other work we are doing around HMOs as part of our wider goal to ensure all private properties are safe to live in and neighbourhoods are supported.”
Letting agents, landlords, tenants and other interested parties are being invited to respond before the council decides whether to proceed with the expanded scheme.
Details of the consultation and its supporting documents are available through the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s official decision record.
