Private rented property licensing
Private rented property licensing schemes have been introduced across parts of the borough, and apply to some privately rented homes.
The licensing schemes have been introduced to improve property conditions and management standards. The schemes also help to reduce deprivation and the antisocial behaviour (ASB) that is sometimes associated with the private rented sector in the borough.Selective licensing
The government has approved Enfield's application to introduce a selective licensing scheme and this will start on 1 September 2021.
Selective licensing applies to all privately rented residential properties occupied by one or two persons, or one family households, located in these 14 wards (areas) across the borough:
Designation one
- Bowes
- Edmonton Green
- Enfield Highway
- Enfield Lock
- Haselbury
- Jubilee
- Lower Edmonton
- Palmers Green
- Ponders End
- Southbury
- Southgate Green
- Turkey Street
- Upper Edmonton
Designation two
- Chase
To check if your property falls within any of the above wards, see our borough and ward profiles page.
The designation makes it compulsory for all private rented properties in these wards to have a licence. Landlords will need to obtain a selective licence for each property they rent out, excluding those properties needing a licence under the mandatory or additional HMO licensing schemes.
For more information and how to apply, see our selective licensing scheme page.
Mandatory HMO licensing
Mandatory houses in multiple occupation (HMO) licensing requires certain large HMOs to be licensed before they can be let out to tenants. From 1 October 2018, the mandatory HMO licensing scheme was extended to include properties with fewer than three storeys. You will need a mandatory HMO licence to rent out your property if it is occupied by five or more people forming more than one household who share some amenities, such as a kitchen or bathroom.
For more information, see our houses in multiple occupation page.
Additional HMO licensing
A borough wide additional licensing scheme started on 1 September 2020. This applies to properties occupied by three or more people forming more than one household who share some amenities, such as a kitchen or bathroom. These are properties that are not covered by the mandatory HMO licensing scheme.
For more information and how to apply, see our houses in multiple occupation page.
To view the consultation documents visit Mel Research.
Designation of areas for selective licensing
The government has approved Enfield's application to introduce a selective licensing scheme. The licensing scheme will come into effect on 1 September 2021.
Selective licensing will apply to all privately rented residential properties occupied by one or two persons, or one family households, located in 14 wards (areas) across the borough.
The wards covered by the selective licensing scheme are:
Designation one (wards in the borough outlined in red on the map)
- Bowes
- Edmonton Green
- Enfield Highway
- Enfield Lock
- Haselbury
- Jubilee
- Lower Edmonton
- Palmers Green
- Ponders End
- Southbury
- Southgate Green
- Turkey Street
- Upper Edmonton
Designation two (ward in the borough outlined in blue on the map)
- Chase
The scheme requires landlords to obtain a licence for each property they rent out in these wards and comply with a range of conditions (PDF) to ensure good property management.
View the public notice of designations of areas for selective licensing (PDF).
Designation of an area for additional licensing
Enfield Council approved the additional licensing scheme in January 2020.
Additional licensing started across the borough on 1 September 2020. This is for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) that are privately rented and occupied by three or four people, forming more than one household, sharing amenities under one or more tenancies.
View the public notice for the designation (PDF).
Before applying for an additional HMO licence, see information on the licensing process.
Summary of response
The feedback from the consultation was carefully considered and is detailed below. Following this consideration, we do not propose to change the proposed schemes or licence fees but are proposing some amendments to licence conditions. As a result of feedback, the changes we have made are:
- The introduction of civil penalties for breaches of housing legislation as an additional enforcement tool (maximum fine of £30,000 for most severe cases)
- Provide dedicated webpages on Enfield Council's website with information for both tenants and landlords and signpost to any funding for grants (such as energy efficiency)
- Include resources to support tenants and landlords (such as tenancy relations and antisocial behaviour officers)
- Easy means of reporting substandard properties (online 'report it' form and dedicated telephone line and email)
- If there are concerns about the licence holder or management of the property, we may impose a condition requiring the licence holder to be accredited but this will be on a case by case basis if considered necessary
- Allow for one (rather than several) selective licence application for buildings where all the flats are under common ownership or management if certain criteria are met
- Propose to set up a stakeholder group involving landlords and letting agents operating in the borough, to work with us on setting the guidance and information we provide to landlords
- Removal of draft condition 3.5 from the additional and selective licence conditions (external property decorative order)
- Removal of draft conditions 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 from the additional licence conditions (responsibilities for Council Tax and payment)
View the council's full response to the consultation (PDF).
Additional licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
Enfield Council considered and approved the additional licensing scheme.
Additional licensing started across the borough on 1 September 2020. This is for HMOs that are privately rented and occupied by three or four people, forming more than one household, sharing amenities under one or more tenancies.
View the public notice for the designation (PDF).
Selective licensing
The government has approved Enfield's application to introduce a selective licensing scheme and this will start on 1 September 2021.
This applies to homes that are privately rented to one or two persons, or one family households.
View the public notice of designations of areas for selective licensing (PDF).
You can report issues with a privately rented property confidentially to us, such as:
- unlicensed property
- overcrowding
- antisocial behaviour
- rogue landlord
- disrepair
This will help us improve the borough for everyone and hold landlords to account for poor management of private rented properties.
We will only contact you if you provide your contact details and confirm that you're happy for us to do so.
If you think a private rented property doesn't have a licence, you should check the online register before reporting.