Selective Licensing
What is Selective Licensing?
Landlord and Agents who rent properties that contain either, i) a single person ii) cohabitating couples iii) or a family of related people, will require a selective property licence, if there are located in one the following two licensing scheme area (scheme 3 and 4) as details below. Please note selective licensing is different to HMO Licensing.
Selective Licensing Requirements in Redbridge
Scheme 3 - 2 Wards
Since 1 November 2023 Selective Scheme 3 has been in operation. This scheme applies to rented properties with postcodes in the Valentines and Ilford Town wards.
Check if your property is located in a Scheme 3
Scheme 4 - 15 Wards
On the 20 December 2023 the Council received approval from central government confirming the designation for Selective Scheme 4. From the 8 April 2024 Selective Scheme 4 will be in force and apply to 15 additional wards in the borough. These wards are: Aldborough, Barkingside, Chadwell, Churchfields, Clementswood, Cranbrook, Fairlop, Goodmayes, Hainault, Loxford, Mayfield, Newbury, Seven Kings, South Woodford, and Wanstead Village.
This scheme begins on Monday 8 April and will cease to have effect on 7 April 2029 or earlier if the Council revokes the scheme under section 60 of the Act.
View the designation notice A copy of this notice may be inspected at London Borough of Redbridge, Lynton House, 255-259 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1NY.
The introduction of this new scheme comes after a full consultation. The council’s response to consultation comments can be reviewed here. Overall, it was found that there are significant issues including poor housing conditions and anti-social behaviour persisting within private rented properties in the borough.
Check if your property is located in Scheme 4
The following are the official designation notices for all Selective licensing that are in place now and upcoming.
Scheme 3 currently in force since 1 November 2023
Public Notice Official Designation For Selective Licensing Scheme 3 (PDF 203KB)
Scheme 4 upcoming and in force from 8 April 2024
Public Notice Official Designation for Selective Licensing Scheme 4 (PDF 805KB)
Existing & Previous Licence Holders
If you have a selective licence which is still in date, your licence is still active and valid.
If you have a selective licence that has expired, and the property is located in a Scheme 3 ward you will need to apply for a property licence now.
If you have a selective Licence that has expired, and the property is located in a Scheme 4 ward you can make an on-line application from Monday 4 March 2024.
How to apply for a licence
Please read all of the below information before you click on the "apply for a Selective Licence" button .
Fees and charges
|
Households |
Part A Fee (Administration and Processing) |
Part B Fee (Regulation and Enforcement) |
Total fee |
|
One household or two unrelated individuals |
£320 |
£540 |
£860 |
|
Discounted fee for accredited landlords ** |
£320 |
£505 |
£825 |
**Discounts: Landlords who submit evidence of accreditation at the time of the application submission (and not after the submission date) will receive a £35 discount on the second instalment. This will reduce the set fee to £825. The discount is not available after the application has been submitted.
Applications for a selective licence may be made by submitting a paper licence. However, there is a £120 processing fee for this service.
Documents required before making your application
You will need to upload copies of the following certificates:
Photos or scans of documents are acceptable, providing the relevant information is clear.
- A Gas Safety Certificate is required every year for all Gas appliances.
- An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is required every 5 years. The NRLA provides advice and guidance on EICR's.
- Portable Appliance Test Certificate(PAT Test optional) or declaration submitted.
- An Energy Performance Certificate is required (Grade A-E only acceptable). For EPC grades F or G, licence will be refused.
- Evidence of landlord/managing agent accreditation: The licence holder and/or the property manager must complete a Landlord Accreditation course organised by the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS), or similar organisation or attend a minimum of 5 CPD hours training provided by another recognised training provider within 18 months of the date of issue of the full licence to prove their competency in managing the property well.
Guidance notes for renting out a property
If you would like more information on how to keep your rented property safe and free from hazard's please read the Guidance Notes for Renting Out A Property
Conditions
When you are granted your selective licence it will be subject to conditions that you will be required to comply with. The conditions are specific to your property but please find a link to an example of the conditions you may be given.
Scheme 3 and Scheme 4 Selective Licence Conditions
What happens next?
Once you have submitted your application, uploaded all your documents and paid the licence fee, which is split in to two parts (Part A and Part B), our team will then commence processing your application. Your licence will be processed within 3 months.
Compliance visit
The majority of selective licensed properties will be inspected within the lifetime of a licence. After submitting an application for a licence, landlords will be able to schedule a time for an officer to carry out a compliance inspection. Most visits will be made through appointment, but some may be unannounced. For more details please read the Guidance Notes for Renting Out A Property before applying for a licence and for fire safety download the LACORS Housing Fire Safety Guidance.
The purpose of this visit is to ensure that the property is safe to be occupied. Specifically,
- Is the property in good repair and there are no Category 1 hazards (HHSRS)?
- Is the property overcrowded?
- Are the licence conditions being adhered to?
- Is it operating as an HMO?
There will be particular attention paid to fire safety, room sizes and overcrowding.
Once a Compliance Visit is completed, landlords will be notified of the outcome which could be one of the following :
- Property is Satisfactory - The licence holder will receive a ‘Satisfactory Inspection Letter’ indicating that no further action is necessary.
- Minor defects Identified - An ‘Advisory Letter’ will be sent outlining necessary remedial repairs needed. It’s the responsibility of the licence holder to fix the issue/s, to prevent them getting worse.
- Serious breaches of licence conditions- The licence holder will be contacted, and enforcement will take place in line with the PSH Enforcement Policy (For example, Financial Penalty Notice or Prosecution).
- Category 1 hazards are identified- The case will be referred to our Re-active Enforcement Team who make further contact with the licence holder/owner and occupier and will conduct a full Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) inspection.
- Found to be operating as an HMO- This will be referred to our Pro-active Enforcement Team for further investigation and enforcement, in line with the PSH Enforcement Policy (For example, Financial Penalty Notice or Prosecution).
Exemptions
Your rented property is exempt from selective licensing if the tenancy or licence to occupy the property is granted by a body which is registered as a social landlord.
Your rented property may also be exempt from selective licensing if the tenancy or licence to occupy the property meets the exemptions listed in the following regulations:
Refund policy
You may be entitled to a refund of the application fee in certain circumstances.
For more information on refunds view the Redbridge Refund Policy (PDF 264KB)
Contact us
Telephone: 0208 708 4845
Email: prslicensing@redbridge.gov.uk
Property Licensing Team
2nd Floor Front
Lynton House
255-259 High Road
Ilford, IG1 1NY
Date page last updated: 18.03.24
