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Consultation on proposals for a privately rented property licensing scheme 2024 - 2029

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This consultation has now closed.

Have your say on improving Barnet’s private rented housing by introducing new property licensing schemes in the borough

In the London Borough of Barnet most houses in multiple occupation, for example bedsits and shared houses require a licence. From summer 2023 all private rented accommodation in Colindale North, Colindale South and Burnt Oak will be required to be licensed.

Following changes in ward boundaries the council is now consulting on new property licensing proposals for the private rented sector in other parts of the borough. Property licensing is a way we can ensure safer and better conditions in private rented

Have your say on improving Barnet’s private rented housing by introducing new property licensing schemes in the borough

In the London Borough of Barnet most houses in multiple occupation, for example bedsits and shared houses require a licence. From summer 2023 all private rented accommodation in Colindale North, Colindale South and Burnt Oak will be required to be licensed.

Following changes in ward boundaries the council is now consulting on new property licensing proposals for the private rented sector in other parts of the borough. Property licensing is a way we can ensure safer and better conditions in private rented properties with a particular focus on areas where poor quality private accommodation is more prevalent. This will enable all our residents to live in a healthy, safe, and thriving borough.


What we are proposing

Based on a comprehensive data analysis exercise we are proposing to introduce selective licensing schemes for all privately rented properties in the following wards. The scheme will run for five years from introduction:

  • Childs Hill
  • Cricklewood
  • Edgware
  • Edgwarebury
  • Finchley Church End
  • Golders Green
  • Hendon
  • Mill Hill
  • West Finchley
  • West Hendon

The selective licensing scheme will apply to all privately rented properties in the above areas. HMOs covered by either the mandatory or additional licensing schemes will not require licensing under this scheme.

A fee for the license will be charged to cover the costs of processing the application and the cost of monitoring compliance with license conditions.

The schemes will help the council work together with landlords to make sure that homes are safe and well managed.

We want to hear your views on our proposals, in particular we want to hear from residents, tenants, landlords, managing or letting agents, organisations, businesses and all other interested parties. To find out more please read our summary consultation document and FAQs. Further information, including detailed evidence on how we have developed our proposals, is provided in the Full Consultation Business Case.


How to have your say:

Your views on these proposals are important to us. We encourage you to have your say by completing our online questionnaire.

If you would like to request a paper questionnaire or another format please:

  • email
  • prslicensingconsultation@barnet.gov.uk
  • or telephone 020 8359 5355.
  • alternatively you can write to us at the Private Sector Housing Team, Regulatory Services, Assurance Group London Borough of Barnet, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London, NW9 4EW.

If you would like someone to help you complete the questionnaire or need more information, please contact us using one of the above methods.


What happens after the consultation closes?

The council will use the consultation findings to inform our final decision. We will publish the results of the consultation, our decision and how we are acting on the results of the consultation on this web page in Autumn 2023.

This consultation has now closed.

  • We asked, you said, we did

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    We asked

    We asked for your views on our proposal to introduce a second phase of selective licensing scheme for all privately rented properties that are not covered by licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), in a total of ten wards in Barnet.


    You said

    We received 369 online responses to the questionnaire and seven written responses via email.

    • overall, the majority (70%) of respondents opposed the introduction of the selective licensing scheme for privately rented properties in Barnet
    • opposition, however, was stronger amongst managing or letting agents and private landlords (100% and 94% opposing respectively) and support was stronger amongst owner occupiers and those renting from private landlords (63% and 43% support respectively)
    • the majority (45%) of respondents were private landlords, with 8% stating they were a managing or letting agent or work for a managing or letting agent. Only 20% of respondents said they rented their home from a private landlord. A further 14% of respondents were owner occupiers.

    There were also several comments made by respondents completing the questionnaire and in written responses in relation to the proposals.

    Those who opposed the proposed scheme gave reasons which included:

    • landlords would exit the market
    • the number of rental properties would reduce and so increase homelessness
    • rents would increase as the cost of the licence would be passed on to tenants
    • it is just a money-making exercise for the council
    • it penalises good landlords, whilst bad landlords will not get a licence
    • unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy
    • concern that the council would not be able to adequately resource the scheme
    • fees are too high.

    Respondents who supported the scheme gave reasons including;

    • too many poor properties
    • poor conditions affecting tenants’ health
    • landlords need to be better regulated
    • to make landlords maintain their properties
    • landlords making short-term profit at the expense of tenants
    • to identify more rented properties
    • reduce crime and anti-social behaviour
    • to protect tenants .

    A large number of people objecting to the proposals did not give reasons for their objection other than indicating their disagreement with licensing. Other comments related to issues that were already explained in the consultation documents. More information is available in the full consultation report.


    We did

    Comments objecting to the scheme were primarily from landlords. The extent of the objections from respondents has been carefully considered and it is deemed that the data and reasons established that led to the proposal in the consultation remain sound and, although there are strong representations from one category of respondent, these do not undermine the original intentions to introduce the scheme. Whilst the council acknowledge the specific responses received from the consultation, the evidence held by the council highlights the issues in the condition and management of private sector accommodation in the ten wards in the borough, and therefore a selective licensing scheme to address poor property conditions in those wards remains a justifiable approach.

    Amendments have been made in response to comments received:

    • although not strictly an amendment to the proposals, we have clarified that the council intend to inspect the majority, if not all licenced properties during the life of the scheme
    • we have removed the proposed additional fee if the second element of the fee isn’t paid in a timely manner
    • we have undertaken that the operation of the fee structure in Phase one of selective licensing, due to be implemented in early 2024, will be carefully monitored and propose that alternative models of fees and discounts given by other authorities will be closely examined with the potential for an alternative fee structure, whilst still covering costs of the scheme
    • we took on board various comments relating to the licence conditions and have amended them accordingly, where we thought this was appropriate.

    The final proposals were considered by the council’s Cabinet on 12 December 2023 and the amended proposals described above were agreed. The designation will not be made until the council is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate strong outcomes, efficient delivery, robust enforcement and adequate resourcing for the existing mandatory and additional licensing schemes and the proposed phase one selective licensing scheme. Once these safeguards are deemed to be met, which is anticipated to be early 2025 at the earliest, then the designation will be signed. After signing, the designation must be confirmed by the Secretary of State for The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities before it can be implemented.


    You can view the final report on the consultation and the summary of comments and the council’s response to them, as well as the final licensing designation (once signed) on the council’s website,