A survey held by a specialist software company providing products for the property and financial sectors has found there will be 19 additional and selective licensing schemes and consultations by local councils in the first four months of this year.

So far six new licensing schemes have been introduced in Greenwich, Islington, Luton, Nottingham and Warwick.

On the consolations front London is top with the number of ongoing consultations in Bexley, Haringey, Lambeth, Waltham Forest, which shows the council’s intentions of introducing new selective and additional licensing schemes this year.

Luton council is the latest to introduce a new selective and additional  licensing schemes this week.

The research also found that 14 schemes are finishing this year and no doubt will be renewed and extended.

Newham council  has just issued its first ever banning order for a landlord who was found guilty of renting out an unlicensed property, this highlights that all councils are determined to undertake far stronger enforcement actions against non- compliant agents and landlords with the introduction of new schemes.