A landlord with an ordinary single-family let, no HMO, no lodgers, found his street had quietly fallen inside an expanded selective licensing zone. A 2024 deregulation let councils move fast, and 2026 has seen new or expanded schemes in Leeds, Hackney, Croydon, Manchester and beyond. Here's how the three licensing types actually differ, and how to check if you're now covered.
Awaab's Law and Your HMO: What Actually Applies Now | KT
A landlord thought he was already breaking Awaab's Law over a reported damp ceiling. He wasn't, because it doesn't cover him yet, and no date has been set for when it will. What he'd actually forgotten was the duty that's applied to private landlords for decades. Here's what's confirmed, what isn't, and what a defensible response to a damp complaint actually looks like right now.