Havering Council Selective and Additional Licensing Consultation

Feedback updated 27 Jan 2026

We asked

Working alongside Cadence Innova, an independent consulting firm, we carried out a 12-week public consultation between April and July 2025 to gather feedback from residents, tenants, landlords, letting and managing agents, businesses, organisations, and anyone with an interest in Havering’s private rented sector. 

Across the private rented sector (PRS), we continue to see examples of poor housing conditions. The Council is committed to improving the standard and safety of PRS homes, ensuring a fair and well‑managed environment for tenants and responsible landlords, while taking firm action against rogue landlords and unsuitable properties. 

As part of this commitment, we consulted on proposals for new property licensing schemes to take effect when the current additional (HMO) and selective licensing schemes end on 24 January 2026.  

The Council is proposing to introduce a selective licensing scheme for all privately rented homes (excluding HMOs) within seven out of 20 wards to address the prevalence of poor housing conditions. These wards include:  

• Beam Park 

• Harold Wood 

• Rainham & Wennington 

• Rush Green & Crowlands 

• Squirrels Heath 

• St Albans and St Edwards.  

It is a requirement of the scheme that all properties in the designated areas that are rented to a single household (e.g., a family) or two unrelated sharers (e.g., two friends living together) will need to have a licence to be legally let.  

The Council is also proposing to introduce a borough‑wide additional HMO licensing scheme, which would apply to all smaller HMOs that are not currently covered by the mandatory HMO licensing scheme. 

Our consultation was widely advertised in the media with press releases, social media posts and leaflets, and included an online survey, 2 virtual public forums and direct emails to key stakeholders. 

You said

403 responses were received to the online consultation. 

A total of 150 people attended the virtual public forums. 

A total of 35 written or email responses were received from stakeholder organisations and another borough council. 

 

  • 220 responses were received from Havering residents or local businesses (but not landlords). 

  • 174 responses were received from landlords, letting or managing agents with properties in Havering. 

  • 9 responses were received from other types of stakeholders which included a councillor, a private renter’s group and a resident’s group. 

  • Of 403 online responses, 41% agreed with the proposal for selective licensing and 47% disagreed.  

  • Of 403 online responses, 59% agreed with the proposal for additional HMO licensing and 31% disagreed. 

We did

Havering's Cabinet met on 10 December 2025 and agreed: 

  • The proposed licensing scheme objectives. 

  • The proposed additional HMO licensing conditions that would accompany any granted HMO licence. 

  • The proposed selective licence conditions that would accompany any granted selective licence. 

  • The proposed fee structure for licence applications made under the additional and selective licensing schemes. 

Please see the full Public Document Pack Here which includes the Consultation Report, Cabinet Report and Appendices. 

Closed 6 Jul 2025

Opened 14 Apr 2025

Contact

prsconsultation@havering.gov.uk

Overview

The private rented sector (PRS) is estimated to make up 19.3% of the borough’s housing market and continues to grow. With instances of poor conditions across the PRS, the Council is committed to improving the condition and quality of properties in this sector. We believe this will create a fair environment for both tenants and responsible landlords, targeting rogue operators and those letting unsuitable properties, driving up standards to the benefit of all.

In order to build on the achievements of the current schemes, the Council is proposing, subject to consultation, to implement new property licensing schemes when the current additional (HMO) and selective licensing schemes expire on 24 January 2026 which would include:

  • Borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme which would apply to all HMOs except those that require a mandatory HMO licence.
  • Selective licensing scheme for all privately rented homes (excluding HMOs) within seven wards to address the prevalence of poor housing conditions.

A selective licensing scheme is proposed for all privately rented homes (excluding HMOs) within the following seven wards to address the prevalence of poor housing conditions: 

Beam Park

Harold Wood

Rainham & Wennington

Rush Green & Crowlands

Squirrels Heath

St Albans

St Edwards

Click here for information:  What is a selective licensing scheme?

A selective licensing scheme is when the whole or part(s) of a borough are subject to a designation under the Housing Act 2004. The designation makes it compulsory for all properties that are rented to single households (e.g., a family) or two unrelated sharers (e.g., two friends living together) to hold a licence before it can be legally let to tenants. 

We are also proposing to introduce additional HMO licensing in all wards of the borough. This would apply to small, shared houses that do not fall under the national mandatory HMO licensing scheme and will help to drive up standards, ensuring safer and better managed HMO accommodation.

Click here for information: What is an additional HMO licensing scheme?

An additional HMO licensing scheme is when the whole or part(s) of a borough are subject to a designation under the Housing Act 2004. The designation makes it compulsory for all shared houses that are rented to three or four unrelated households, sharing amenities such as cooking and/or washing facilities and not covered by mandatory national HMO licensing to hold a licence before it can be legally let to tenants. 

If approved, the schemes could be introduced when the current schemes expire, in January 2026.

Why your views matter

We want to hear the views of all residents, tenants, landlords, managing or letting agents, organisations and businesses, or from anyone with an interest in the private rented sector in Havering.

Please read the proposed consultation supporting documents, you can find them in the 'related' section below:

  • Evidence Pack
  • Appendix 1 - Housing Stock Condition and Stressors Report (Metastreet, 2024)
  • Appendix 2 - Selective Licence Conditions
  • Appendix 3 - Additional HMO Licence Conditions
  • Appendix 4 - Schedule of Proposed Fees, Charges and Discounts
  • Appendix 5 - Equality & Health Impact Assessment (EqHIA)

and provide feedback by using the online survey link below. 

Paper copies of the questionnaire can be requested by calling 01708 433 890, or in person at our libraries  across the borough.

We are holding online public meetings on the following dates:

Wednesday 14 May 2025

18:30 to 20:00

Register here

Wednesday 18 June 2025

18:30 to 20:00

Register here

You can attend to find out more and tell us about your views on our proposals. Spaces will be limited, so please ensure you register early to reserve your place.

Further Information

If you have any queries or require help in sharing your views with us, please email prsconsultation@havering.gov.uk 

 

What happens next

Your views will be taken into consideration and changes made, if necessary, to the final proposals. The final proposals will be submitted to the Council’s cabinet for consideration in Autumn 2025.

Havering Council has appointed Cadence Innova, an independent business management company, to support the consultation exercise. Havering will produce a consultation report in which feedback from individual members of the public will be anonymous, but views from organisations may be attributed in full.

Information will only be used to inform this consultation and any personal information that could identify you will be kept for no more than one year after any decisions have been finalised. For further information, please see Havering Council's privacy notice.

 

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