Havering Council Rolls Out New Selective and HMO Licensing

Key Points

• Havering Council will introduce new selective and additional HMO property licensing schemes from March 2026.
• The selective licensing scheme will apply to all privately rented properties in seven targeted wards not already covered by mandatory or additional HMO licensing.
• The affected wards are Beam Park, Harold Wood, Rainham and Wennington, Rush Green and Crowlands, Squirrels Heath, St Alban’s, and St Edwards.
• The new selective licensing scheme will replace the existing HMO scheme, which currently covers three wards until January 2026.
• A new borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme will also begin in March 2026, replacing the current scheme covering six wards that expires in January 2026.
• Havering Council says the schemes are designed to tackle poor housing conditions, improve property management standards, and reduce anti-social behaviour.
• Council leader Cllr Ray Morgon states the priority is to protect residents, support responsible landlords, and ensure safe, secure and well‑maintained homes.
• The council highlights that Havering has some of the highest levels of private renting compared with other London boroughs.
• Landlords will be required to meet minimum housing standards or face enforcement action under the new framework.
• Accredited landlords and those whose properties achieve higher energy efficiency ratings will be eligible for licensing fee discounts.
• The measures are part of wider efforts by Havering Council to improve housing quality and strengthen regulation in the private rented sector.

Havering Council is set to roll out a new package of property licensing schemes from March 2026, covering thousands of privately rented homes across key wards in the borough, in a move aimed at raising housing standards, clamping down on poor management, and providing stronger protections for tenants while maintaining support for responsible landlords.

What has Havering Council announced about new property licensing schemes?

As reported by the team of London Now, Havering Council has confirmed that from March 2026 it will introduce a new selective licensing scheme alongside a borough‑wide additional house in multiple occupation (HMO) licensing framework. Together, these schemes are intended to reshape how privately rented homes are regulated across large parts of the borough.

According to London Now’s coverage, the selective licensing scheme will apply to all privately rented properties in seven targeted wards that are not already subject to mandatory or additional HMO licensing. In parallel, the council will bring in an additional HMO licensing scheme covering the whole borough, replacing existing arrangements that currently apply only to specific wards and are due to expire in early 2026.

Which wards will be covered by the new selective licensing scheme?

London Now reports that the new selective licensing scheme will extend to privately rented homes in seven named wards. These are:

• Beam Park
• Harold Wood
• Rainham and Wennington
• Rush Green and Crowlands
• Squirrels Heath
• St Alban’s
• St Edwards

Under the plans outlined by Havering Council and highlighted by London Now, any privately rented property within these wards that is not already captured by mandatory or additional HMO licensing will fall under the selective licensing regime once it goes live in March 2026.

How will the new schemes replace existing HMO licensing arrangements?

According to London Now, the new selective licensing scheme is designed to replace an existing HMO licensing scheme that currently covers three wards and runs until January 2026. Once the current scheme expires, the new selective licensing framework will take its place from March 2026, creating a revised regulatory structure for rented homes in the affected areas.

In addition, as also reported by London Now, Havering Council will implement a borough‑wide additional HMO licensing scheme, also commencing in March 2026. This new additional HMO scheme will replace the existing additional HMO scheme that presently covers six wards and is scheduled to come to an end in January 2026. The replacement is intended to ensure continuity of regulation while broadening its reach across the borough.

Why is Havering Council introducing these licensing schemes?

As reported by London Now, Havering Council has framed the new licensing measures as part of a wider strategy to improve standards in the private rented sector and address persistent issues in some parts of the borough. The council argues that the schemes will help it tackle poor housing conditions, deal with inadequate property management, and reduce anti‑social behaviour linked to badly managed properties.

Council leader Ray Morgon has been clear about the rationale. According to London Now, Cllr Morgon said:

“Our priority is to help protect residents and support responsible landlords.”

He noted that Havering has comparatively high levels of private renting when set against other London boroughs, which the council says makes robust regulation particularly important.

What has Cllr Ray Morgon said about protecting tenants and supporting landlords?

As reported by London Now, Cllr Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, has set out the administration’s aims in introducing the new schemes. Cllr Morgon said:

“Our priority is to help protect residents and support responsible landlords.”

In the same statement, he stressed the significance of the private rented sector in the borough, adding:

“We have some of the highest levels of private renting compared to other London boroughs.”

Cllr Morgon further explained, as quoted by London Now, that:

“These licensing schemes will help us raise standards, tackle poor property management, and ensure that everyone in Havering has access to safe, secure and well-maintained homes.”

The council leader’s comments place emphasis both on raising quality and on ensuring that regulation works fairly across the sector.

How does the council plan to raise standards and tackle poor property management?

According to London Now’s report, the council views licensing as a mechanism to compel landlords to meet minimum housing standards and to provide an enforcement framework when standards are not met. The schemes are intended to target poor housing conditions and to support more proactive oversight of properties that may previously have fallen outside other regulatory regimes.

The council has stated, as reported by London Now, that both the selective and additional HMO licensing schemes are designed to reduce anti‑social behaviour and enforce landlord responsibility. This suggests that the schemes will not only focus on the physical condition of properties but also on broader issues associated with how homes are managed and how tenants’ behaviour is overseen.

How are responsible landlords distinguished from those who do not comply?

In London Now’s coverage, Havering Council acknowledges that a significant number of landlords in the borough already operate to acceptable or high standards. Cllr Ray Morgon stated:

“Many landlords already do the right thing, but this licensing helps create a level playing field by targeting those who do not.”

His comments indicate that the council intends to target a minority of poor‑performing landlords rather than penalise the entire sector.

Cllr Morgon added, as quoted by London Now, that:

“We want those landlords who don’t comply, to know we will take the strongest action against them.”

This statement underscores the council’s intention to use the licensing regime as a tool for enforcement, signalling that non‑compliance with licensing conditions and minimum standards could lead to significant consequences.

What enforcement powers will apply under the new licensing framework?

London Now reports that under the new arrangements, landlords will be required to meet minimum housing standards, and that those who fail to do so may face enforcement action by the council. While specific penalties are not detailed in the material reported by London Now, the reference to “the strongest action” from Cllr Morgon indicates that Havering Council envisages using all legal powers available to address non‑compliant landlords.

The council’s statement, as relayed by London Now, notes that the schemes are explicitly aimed at enforcing landlord responsibility. This implies that officers will have a clearer basis for inspecting properties, setting conditions on licences, and acting where standards fall short, particularly in relation to property condition and management practices.

How will accredited landlords and energy‑efficient properties be treated?

According to London Now, the council plans to introduce incentives within the licensing framework for landlords who can demonstrate good practice or higher environmental performance. The coverage states that accredited landlords, and those with properties that achieve higher energy efficiency standards, will be eligible for fee discounts on their licences.

By offering fee reductions, Havering Council appears to be encouraging landlords both to seek accreditation and to invest in improving the energy efficiency of their properties. This aligns with wider policy goals around sustainability and may also help tenants benefit from lower energy bills and better‑insulated homes.

How do these schemes fit into Havering’s wider housing strategy?

London Now reports that the new licensing schemes are part of Havering Council’s broader efforts to improve housing quality and strengthen the private rented sector. By replacing existing, more limited schemes with a more comprehensive framework from March 2026, the council is signalling that regulation of private renting will remain a core element of its housing policy.

The focus on safety, security, and well‑maintained homes, as articulated by Cllr Morgon and cited by London Now, positions the schemes as one strand of a wider strategy that includes both enforcement and support. While detailed policy documents have not been set out in the material reported by London Now, the council’s language suggests an ongoing commitment to raising standards and addressing problem properties across the borough.

What are the next steps before the schemes start in March 2026?

As of the information reported by London Now, the council has set out its intention to commence the new licensing schemes in March 2026, following the expiry of current schemes in January 2026. In the period leading up to implementation, the council is likely to undertake further preparatory work, including communications with landlords, letting agents, and tenants, to ensure those affected understand the new requirements.

London Now notes that once the schemes are in force, all landlords operating in the specified wards under the selective licensing scheme, as well as those managing HMOs across the borough under the additional licensing scheme, will be required to obtain the relevant licences and comply with the attached conditions. Failure to do so could expose them to enforcement action, in line with Havering Council’s stated intention to act robustly against non‑compliance.