That’s all they are. There was obviously a reason to bring in mandatory HMO licenses to stop certain landlords cramming 8 people into a 3 bedroom house but now most of London’s council’s are rolling out additional licenses where even if you are 3 people getting a 3 bed property you require a licence in many London Boroughs and areas of the country. Greenwich for example has brought it in 1st Jan this year for a cost of **£499.88** per habitable room [https://www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/greenwich-council-new-additional-licensing-scheme-starts-1-january-2024/](https://www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/greenwich-council-new-additional-licensing-scheme-starts-1-january-2024/)
I’ve been looking with friends for a property and everywhere we go this cost is just passed to the tenants, we’ve been told by every place we’ve viewed that the rent is £200 higher per month for the license and the trouble of doing it. Something which landlords should be doing anyway and should be criminally prosecuted for (e.g. not having working smoke detectors) is now just a way of councils raising additional revenues from younger/poorer people.
A fine example of terrible policies written by clueless people hitting the people who they’re actually supposed to help. If you’re 4 young people starting your careers have fun paying essentially double council tax for the privilege of sharing a rental.
by The765Goat