Licensing: London Landlord and Agent Fined £12,500 - Do You Need a Licence for Guaranteed Rent?

Licensing: London Landlord and Agent Fined £12,500 - Do You Need a Licence for Guaranteed Rent?

A landlord and their managing agent were recently fined a combined £12,500 by Haringey Council for failing to licence a property correctly, and that's not all. The managing agent has been added to the GLA’s Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker, and the property was found to have serious safety hazards including inadequate fire protection and dangerous stairs.

👉 You can read the full Haringey Council case here: Landlord and agent fined for unlicensed HMO

The issue? The property was being operated as an unlicensed ‘Additional’ HMO, and even though the agent appealed, the tribunal dismissed the appeal outright. The fine stood. The property was only brought up to legal standard after the council stepped in.

What does this mean for landlords and agents?

Licensing requirements are not optional and failure to comply can mean heavy penalties, enforcement notices, and reputational damage.

At Apex, we take compliance seriously. Any property we onboard must hold the correct licence. It’s a legal requirement, and more importantly, it ensures occupant safety and landlord protection.

How Licensing Affects Guaranteed Rent

If a landlord fails to licence their property, we cannot legally place an occupant. And if there’s no occupant, rent payments will be paused until a licence is obtained. That’s not a policy decision, that’s the law.

However, we know that licensing applications can take time. Some boroughs process licences in a few weeks, others can take months. In some cases, it stretches into years. As long as an application has been submitted and confirmation has been received, we can proceed with onboarding and guarantee the rent from that point onward.

We’re not here to catch landlords out, we’re here to help. Our property management and compliance team can guide landlords through the application process and provide advice on what documentation is needed and how best to approach specific boroughs.

New Rules, More Boroughs, Tighter Timelines

Following changes introduced under new legislation, councils now have the freedom to expand licensing schemes without central government approval.

That means:

• More boroughs are launching additional or selective licensing schemes

• Smaller HMOs are being pulled into the net

• Enforcement is being stepped up, with greater use of civil penalties and public registers

If you’re a landlord or agent still unsure whether your property needs a licence, now is the time to check.

What Apex Does

When landlords choose guaranteed rent with Apex, they benefit from:

• Full transparency: we’ll do our best to flag if your property requires a licence before onboarding, but the responsibility remains with the landlord.

• Compliance support: we’ll help you apply and track the status.

• Peace of mind: once application is confirmed, we’ll start paying rent and take care of the rest.

This isn’t just about following rules, it’s about protecting your income and avoiding unnecessary fines.

Want to Rent Your Property to the Council via Guaranteed Rent?

If you’re thinking of renting your property to the council through a guaranteed rent scheme, make sure your compliance is watertight. Apex works directly with local authorities across London - we know what’s required, and we only take on properties that meet legal standards. That protects the council, the occupant, and you.

Need help checking your licensing status? Want to apply but unsure where to start?

Our team can help.

📞 0203 030 4241

📧 propertyteam@apexhousingsolutions.co.uk

Let’s make sure your property is compliant and your rent is secure.