Your first New Years Resolution for 2025: Check if your properties are in one of the 37 licensing schemes currently under consultation or about to be implemented
Welcome to 2025, a year brimming with fresh opportunities and, yes, new responsibilities for landlords and letting agents. Rather than feeling weighed down by changes to licensing requirements, imagine the relief and success you can experience by taking proactive steps right now. Let this be your first resolution of the year: find out whether any of your properties are in one of the 37 new licensing consultations/schemes over England alone that are currently under consultation or poised to adopt new licensing schemes.
Big Changes in Licensing Schemes for Landlords in 2025: What You Need to Know
From 23 December 2024, local housing authorities in England no longer need the Secretary of State confirmation to implement selective licensing. Although they must still comply with statutory requirements in Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004, this more straightforward path for local authorities could catch unsuspecting landlords off guard. The introduction of licensing schemes can bring stiff penalties, with fines reaching as high as £30,000 per offence.
Some landlords might be tempted to see these new rules as just another piece of red tape, however, every challenge is an opportunity in disguise. When these changes are fully understood and properly managed, landlords can safeguard their properties, tenants, and financial stability.
Insights from Yuno: What Selective Licensing Changes Mean for You
Research from Yuno reveals that selective licensing schemes have not always raised standards as intended—yet local housing officers have found them immensely helpful for enforcement on the ground. The upcoming rule changes mean councils can act faster and further, requiring only 10 weeks of consultation in many cases. If you’re not actively monitoring these developments, you could face unexpected costs and disruptions.
Paul Conway, CEO of Yuno, cautions that landlords may not see a new licensing scheme coming until the last moment. Yuno has discovered substantial differences in licence fees, from £350 in Ashfield to as high as £1,225 in Leeds. This, however, should be viewed not as an insurmountable hurdle but as a signal to partner with the right people and resources—those who can help you stay compliant and ahead of the curve.
Let Qualified Agents Lighten Your Load
For self-managing landlords, this might be the perfect moment to consider a full management option with a qualified agent. By entrusting your compliance obligations to experts, you ensure prompt and efficient handling of any new or existing licensing requirements. This strategic move frees you up to focus on growing your portfolio and seizing new opportunities.
Licensing Schemes in 2025: 37 Areas Under Consultation You Should Monitor
Areas under consultation or soon to be affected include Blackpool, Lancaster, Reading, Salford, multiple London boroughs, and many more. A total of 37 schemes are either being introduced or are under consideration. Instead of viewing this as 37 headaches, think of it as 37 prompts to secure your portfolio’s future.
Reach Out to Yuno About Licensing Schemes in 2025
Want to protect your investments and ensure your properties meet the latest requirements? Contact Yuno. We can assess your current portfolio, address planning, fire safety, and energy concerns, and help make sure that compliance doesn’t consume your time or profit. We believe that when you streamline your responsibilities, you free yourself to pursue new property ventures with confidence.
Contact Yuno at [email protected] or visit www.goyuno.com to stay ahead of licensing schemes in 2025.
Source: Selective Licensing in the Private Rented Sector – A Guide for Local Authorities
