Selective licensing scheme for private rented homes in four city wards live   

The selective licensing scheme for private rented homes in 4 city wards is now live. 

The scheme covers properties that have one or 2 people living in them, or a family, as well as single-storey flats or bungalows with 3 or 4 unrelated residents. Properties with more than one floor, with 3 or more unrelated occupiers, are already covered by the city-wide HMO licensing schemes.

Around 2,100 properties across Kemptown, Moulsecoomb and Bevendean, Queen’s Park and Whitehawk and Marina wards are affected – areas where there is a clear link between poor property conditions and private rented homes.  

Property owners and managing agents now need to complete the Selective Licensing application form. 

You can find full details – including fees, discounts and licence conditions – on our property licensing schemes webpage. 

Improving private rented homes 

Private rented accommodation accounts for more than a third of residents’ homes in the city. While many landlords run their properties responsibly, the council receives numerous complaints about unacceptably poor standards. 

The scheme, which was agreed at the Housing & New Homes Committee on 13 March 2024, will help rectify this and raise living standards. 

Subject to approval by the Secretary of State, we are also proposing the introduction of a second stage of the Selective Licensing Scheme to cover 13 wards on the grounds of poor property conditions. 

The city-wide Additional HMO Licensing scheme, which was introduced in July, has received more than 1,600 applications since the launch. It covers houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) of two or more storeys with three or four occupiers.

• Find out more about licensing and planning rules for HMOs in Brighton & Hove. 

Raising living standards for everyone 

Councillor Gill Williams, chair of the Housing & New Homes Committee, said: “Improving homes across the city is a key part of our plan for a better Brighton & Hove.  

“Too often we hear from residents in private rental accommodation about their poor experiences – introducing licensing in these four wards will allow us to raise standards. 

“We’ve already seen the benefits property licensing brings for better managed and safer homes. It can also benefit landlords by putting us in a better position to help them improve and maintain their properties. 

“We also know we have work to do ourselves to improve the safety and quality of council-rented homes – and we have increased investment to achieve that.”

Further information 

• Visit our property licensing pages for further details of selective licensing, additional HMO licensing and mandatory HMO licensing in Brighton & Hove.