Housing licensing sits across housing law, criminal and regulatory law and public law. It is an area of growing practical importance yet there remains limited practitioner literature addressing the framework in an integrated way.
This book provides a structured and practical account of the licensing regimes under the Housing Act 2004, covering both England and Wales, and includes the amendments made by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. It is written for local authority lawyers and officers as well as those representing landlords, agents or tenants. In particular it is for those who may not necessarily consider themselves specialists but are increasingly asked to advise on housing licensing, enforcement and other consequences of non-compliance.
CONTENTS
PART I - THE STATUTORY LICENSING FRAMEWORK
Chapter 1: Introduction and Legislative Context
Chapter 2 What Is a House in Multiple Occupation?
Chapter 3: Mandatory Licensing
Chapter 4: Additional Licensing
Chapter 5: Selective Licensing Under Part 3
Chapter 6: Landlord Registration and Licensing in Wales
PART II - LICENSING PROCEDURE AND LIABILITY
Chapter 7: Applications, Grant, Variation, Revocation and Appeals
Chapter 8: Who Is Responsible?
Chapter 9: Licence Conditions
PART III - CRIMINAL AND CIVIL ENFORCEMENT
Chapter 10: Criminal Offences and Prosecution
Chapter 11: Civil Penalties
Chapter 12: Rent Repayment Orders
Chapter 13: Banning Orders, Management Orders & the Rogue Landlord Database
Chapter 14: Investigatory Powers
PART IV - HOUSING LICENSING IN PRACTICE
Chapter 15: Practical Compliance and Enforcement Strategy
Related Subjects
Law