Barnet’s Selective Licensing Scheme Expands in 2025

Key Points

• Barnet Council is progressing with a second phase of a selective licensing scheme set for 2025, targeting multiple wards including Childs Hill, Cricklewood, Edgware, and others.
• The scheme aims to improve housing conditions, address anti-social behaviour, and enforce better private rental standards.
• Selective licensing requires all privately rented properties in designated areas to obtain a licence, irrespective of tenancy size.
• The designation requires confirmation by the Secretary of State and is expected to last five years.
• Barnet Council previously implemented a borough-wide additional licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), active since October 2022.
• Consultations on new selective licensing schemes have been ongoing since 2023, but implementation has faced delays pending evidence of enforcement and approval.
• The council’s licensing efforts respond to concerns about poor housing quality, overcrowding, mould, and energy inefficiency in the private rented sector.
• Licensing fees aim to cover enforcement and compliance costs, with the council focusing on data-driven enforcement to tackle non-compliance.

What is selective licensing and why is Barnet implementing it now?

Selective licensing is a scheme whereby all privately rented properties in specified areas must be licensed with the local council regardless of occupancy levels. According to a 2025 draft designation document from Barnet Council, the aim is to tackle issues such as substandard housing, anti-social behaviour, overcrowding, and poor management in the private rented sector.

Barnet Council’s selective licensing targets wards including Childs Hill, Cricklewood, Finchley Church End, Hendon, and others, as indicated in official documents outlining the Phase 2 2025 scheme. By enforcing licensing, the council hopes to ensure rented homes are safe, well-managed, and energy efficient, addressing significant tenant concerns raised during consultations in 2023.​

How has Barnet’s licensing approach evolved recently?

Barnet has a multi-tiered licensing approach. Mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more occupants from different households. Additional licensing, implemented borough-wide since October 2022, extends to all HMOs with three or more people from different households and includes certain non-compliant converted flats.​

Selective licensing is a broader step than the additional scheme, as it covers all privately rented properties in designated areas, not just HMOs. Barnet initiated consultations on selective licensing in 2023 but has not yet fully implemented the first scheme for areas like Colindale North, Colindale South, and Burnt Oak due to pending government approvals and demonstrated enforcement capacity.​

Which areas will the new selective licensing scheme affect?

The Phase 2 selective licensing scheme proposes to apply to several wards: Childs Hill, Cricklewood, Edgware, Edgwarebury, Finchley Church End, Golders Green, Hendon, Mill Hill, West Finchley, and West Hendon. These areas have been identified based on data highlighting poor quality housing and related social issues.​

The designation will come into force after receiving confirmation from the Secretary of State and will last for five years, unless revoked earlier by the council.​

What issues is the scheme intended to address?

Barnet Council acknowledges the private rented sector faces challenges such as poor housing conditions, including damp and mould, energy inefficiency, overcrowding, and instances of anti-social behaviour. These problems affect residents’ health and quality of life.

The selective licensing scheme aims to improve housing standards by requiring landlords to meet certain management and safety standards under council oversight. Fees from licensing are expected to fund compliance monitoring and enforcement.​

Why has there been a delay in implementing the selective licensing scheme?

While consultations began in 2023 and a cabinet decision on a new selective licensing scheme covering ten wards was made in December 2023, Barnet Council has not yet implemented the scheme. As reported by London Property Licensing, the council intends to demonstrate robust enforcement of the first proposed scheme before starting the second. This cautious approach aims to ensure effective use of licensing powers, though it has caused uncertainty.​

What is the significance of the additional licensing scheme already in place?

The borough-wide additional licensing scheme for HMOs, effective since 27 October 2022, was introduced to address persistent issues with licensable HMOs that previously lacked adequate oversight. The scheme requires all HMOs with three or more occupants to be licensed and managed properly. This broader licensing reflected the council’s commitment to securing safer rental housing.​

What are the future steps for selective licensing in Barnet?

Barnet Council needs to secure Secretary of State approval before final implementation of the Phase 2 selective licensing. The council plans to focus on data-driven enforcement, specifically targeting unlicensed properties and poor landlord management. They aim to strike a balance between regulatory oversight and allowing landlords to operate effectively.​

The licensing scheme is set to come into force no sooner than three months after government confirmation and will continue for five years. The Council has prioritised these licensing measures as part of strategic efforts to improve housing standards borough-wide.