An advertising van has taken to the streets as part of a public consultation by Brent Council into plans to extend the current landlord licensing scheme to the entire borough.
The 11-week consultation is around halfway through and so far 400 people have had their say but council chiefs want to hear from more.
Currently all Homes of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) in the borough and privately rented accommodation in the wards of Harlesden, Willesden Green and Wembley Central must have a licence.
Properties are classed as being a HMO if it is rented out to three or more people with one of them not being related to the others.
The council is asking residents if they would like the scheme to be borough-wide.
The consultation ends on December 16 and the results will be published and used in a report to Brent’s cabinet, which is likely to be discussed in February next year.
Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, said: “Everyone in Brent deserves a home that is safe, secure and comfortable.
“That’s why the council is beginning this consultation with residents - to listen to you about the ways we can make renting a home in our borough better.
Since the licensing scheme came into force in January last year there have been a catalogue of successful prosecutions where landlords who have failed to licence their property have been fined.
This includes Douglas Gerard-Reynolds who was the first landlord to be fined for renting out an unlicensed MHO in Anson Road, Cricklewood.
He was fined £2,500 after his tenants were forced to live in substandard bedsits with inadequate heating facilities and water leaks.
Other rogue landlords include married couple Gharmesh and Gita Khatri who were given the maximum £20,000 fine for renting out rundown bedsits in Forty Lane, Wembley, without a licence in March.
Views can be given online at brent.gov.uk/landlordlicensing or by requesting a paper copy, council officers are also touring the borough at popular shopping destinations and community venues.
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