New Licensing Scheme to Improve Private Rented Housing

Leeds Council approves selective licensing to raise housing standards

Leeds City Council has approved a new selective licensing scheme aimed at improving the quality of privately rented homes in several deprived areas of the city. The scheme, which will come into effect in February 2026, requires most private landlords in the designated areas to obtain a licence and comply with specific conditions designed to ensure safer and better-managed properties.

Scope and coverage of the scheme

The new licensing scheme will cover approximately 12,500 privately rented homes across a continuous area including parts of the following council wards:

• Armley
• Beeston & Holbeck
• Burmantofts & Richmond Hill
• Gipton & Harehills
• Hunslet & Riverside
• Farnley & Wortley

Landlords, with certain limited exceptions, will be legally required to obtain a licence for any residential property they intend to let within these areas.

Licence conditions and enforcement

The licence conditions include:

• Ensuring the safe operation of gas and electrical appliances
• Providing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
• Maintaining the property in a decent state of repair both internally and externally

The council will use income from licensing fees to fund the administration and enforcement of the scheme. Failure to comply with licence conditions may result in civil penalties.

Background and rationale

This expanded scheme follows two previous selective licensing initiatives in the Beeston and Harehills areas that ran from 2020 until early 2025. During those schemes:

• More than 6,700 inspections and visits were conducted at privately rented properties
• Landlords carried out improvements at around 1,430 homes
• Living conditions improved for an estimated 6,000 residents
• Approximately 400 civil penalties were issued to non-compliant landlords
• Over 1,900 referrals were made to partner agencies to support tenants with health, financial, and other issues

The council also noted that intelligence gathered during inspections assisted police efforts to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Legal framework and consultation

Selective licensing schemes in England are authorised under the Housing Act 2004 and can run for a maximum of five years. The council’s decision to introduce this wider scheme was informed by a 12-week public consultation held late last year, which received over 2,000 responses from landlords, residents, and stakeholders. Views expressed included both support and opposition, with some landlords objecting to the plans.

The council confirmed that the designated area meets government criteria related to deprivation and the proportion of privately rented housing, which are necessary for implementing selective licensing.

Next steps

Following the executive board’s approval, the council will take further steps to raise awareness of the new licensing scheme, including publishing public notices and contacting consultees directly. The scheme is scheduled to commence in February 2026.

More information about the scheme and licensing requirements will be made available by Leeds City Council ahead of its introduction.