EALING Council is inviting residents to propose changes to its property licensing schemes, in order to improve private renting in the borough.

Since 2017, many privately rented homes in Ealing have needed a licence in order to be let.

The Council is now looking at the possibility of expanding the licensing system in order to better manage and regulate more rented properties.

The plans include:

• Renewing the existing borough-wide 'additional' licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation (HMO), and expanding it to include the majority of HMOs, rather than just the larger ones.
• Expanding licensing to cover all rented properties in the 15 wards of the borough with the highest number of homes in poor condition. This is known as selective licensing and builds on a scheme introduced in 2017 which covered five of the wards.

Under the schemes, a licence holder would have to comply with several conditions relating to the management and condition of the property.

They would also have to provide a written tenancy agreement and manage any anti-social behaviour by their tenant.

The licences will last for five years but can be reviewed if standards are not being met.

Public Consultation

Before any decisions are made however, the Council is running a public consultation until August 2.

As well as filling in the online survey, residents are invited to share their views with council officers by attending a live virtual public meeting on the following dates:

• June 9 for tenants living in private rented properties.
• June 16 for landlords and managing and lettings agents.
• June 23 for all other residents and businesses.

Councillor Joanna Camadoo-Rothwell, Ealing Council's lead member for community safety and inclusion said: "Property licensing is one of the best tools available to us to ensure safer and better conditions in private rented homes.

"Over the last five years, it has helped us to raise standards for tenants and provide better support for landlords, who play a vital role in the local housing market.

"Although the overwhelming majority of landlords and agents offer good quality housing for their tenants, a small but significant minority do not.

"The proposed expansion of licensing would help us to tackle problem landlords and push up standards in the borough's rented homes.

"We encourage all residents to tell us their views on these plans."