Rogue landlords targeted with licence plan

Private landlords in north-west London will have to pay £350 to subscribe to a licensing scheme as part of plans aimed at targeting rogue practices.

Brent Council hopes the plans will help tackle landlords who offer homes which are unsanitary and overcrowded, and those who do not carry out repairs.

The council wards affected are Wembley Central, Harlesden and Willesden.

Neighbours concerned about fly-tipping and other anti-social behaviour are expected to benefit from the scheme.

The licences, which landlords can start to apply for from November, will last for five years.

The council already operates a mandatory licensing scheme across the borough for large, privately rented homes with multiple occupants.

For homes which are occupied by one household, licences can only be introduced in areas which are proven to have anti-social behaviour problems.

A similar scheme was first introduced in Newham, east London, last year.