Recent developments in mandatory, additional and selective licensing

Last week, in a landmark ruling, a Divisional Court clarified that the offence of managing or having control of an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO), contrary to s.72(1) of the Housing Act 2004 (the 2004 Act), is a strict liability offence, which does not require proof of a defendant's mens rea.

Dean Underwood appeared for the successful council.

In this webinar, Dean will consider recent changes in the landscape of mandatory, additional and selective licensing under the Housing Act 2004, focusing in particular on recent decisions of the appeal courts and tribunals. Dean has been involved in some of the leading cases on 2004 Act licensing in the last 12 months, including Waltham Forest LBC v Marshall and R (Mohamed) v Waltham Forest LBC. He has guided local housing authorities nationwide through the process of designating their borough as subject to additional and/or selective licensing.

The webinar assumes a basic knowledge and understanding of 2004 Act licensing and will provide an essential update for those working in or affected by the regulation of the private rented sector, in particular local authority solicitors and officers, solicitors in private practice, private sector landlords and agents.

SLIDES - Click here to download a copy of the slides that were used in this webinar

About the presenters