Waltham Forest Council has been found out as it extended both its additional and selective licensing schemes with very little publicity and information notifying agents and landlords about the extensions.

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The schemes were for the period up to 1 April 2025 but have now been extended to 31 March 31 2030.

Of course these extensions are critically important to law abiding landlords and a data company says the authority had announced it very quietly and discreetly without ensuring landlords and lettings agents were suitably informed or contacted.

The official designation for the extended licensing schemes was quietly made on 18th July just after Labour gained power and the company says the council failed to properly communicate its new scheme.

The information had been ‘hidden away’ amongst the authority’s consultation announcements and worst still the additional licensing webpage is not due for an update until May 2025 after the new licensing scheme has started.

The firm studied the Mayor of London rogue landlord database and found that Waltham Forest council has so far this year issued £876,400 in fines for unlicensed properties.

The firm’s recent poll found that 70% of landlords and lettings agents find it hard to determine whether their properties fall within the licensing schemes, and over 90% are highly critical of councils for not properly publicising the new schemes being introduced and the latest regulatory changes.

A spokesperson for the firm, added: “The rigorous enforcement by Waltham Forest is commendable and sets a high standard for improving housing conditions. However, this progress is undermined by the council’s failure to adequately inform stakeholders about upcoming licensing changes.