Slough Borough Council has launched a consultation on plans to introduce comprehensive licensing schemes that would regulate approximately 17,000 rental properties across the town, one of the largest in South East England.
The proposed schemes would require landlords to pay £950 per property for a five-year HMO (house in multiple occupation) licence and £750 for a selective licence covering other rental properties. The measures would effectively bring all rental properties within the borough under licensing requirements, regardless of designation.
Expansion beyond current requirements
Currently, only larger HMOs in Slough require licensing. The new proposals would extend regulation to smaller HMOs and all non-HMO rental properties, representing a significant expansion of oversight in the private rental sector.
The move follows similar trends in the rental market across England and Scotland, where local authorities are increasingly implementing licensing schemes to address housing standards and management issues.
A 10-week consultation period will run until 23 September, after which findings will be presented to Slough’s Cabinet for a decision on whether to implement one or both schemes. If approved, the licensing programmes would operate for five years, though no start date has been confirmed.
Stated objectives
According to the council, the schemes aim to improve housing conditions, raise property management standards, reduce overcrowding, increase professionalism among landlords and letting agents, inform tenants of their rights, and reduce anti-social behaviour.
Councillor Zafar Satti, lead member for public protection and regulatory services, said: “Toughening the rules for the private rented and HMO sectors will only be a good thing, as it puts in place measures to protect residents and communities. It will help to make sure properties are of a higher standard, make them more desirable to live in and offer more stability.”
The council stated it had previously relied on enforcement and landlord accreditation to achieve these objectives, but now considers licensing a more effective approach, particularly for HMOs.
Financial implications for landlords
The licensing fees represent a recurring cost for property investors and landlords operating in Slough. For a landlord with multiple properties, the cumulative cost could be substantial, potentially affecting returns in the buy-to-let market.
The consultation document is available for review on the council’s website, with stakeholders encouraged to submit feedback before the September deadline. The council has not yet indicated what level of support or opposition it anticipates from the landlord and letting agent community.
