Slough Council plans to introduce new selective and additional licensing schemes amid concerns over significant hazards in rental properties.

Slough had a selective licence scheme covering central Slough and Chalvey wards, and an additional borough-wide licensing scheme from 2020 to 2024. The authority now wants to reintroduce both these schemes and expand them to cover all wards.

HMOs are a growing concern in the borough, a recent council meeting heard, and account for a significant number of housing complaints and enforcement activity. Between 2020 and 2025, 2,752 anti-social behaviour incidents were reported, with those linked to a suspected HMO accounting for 801 of these incidents. Over the same period, of the 369 housing enforcement notices served in the PRS, suspected HMOs accounted for 41% of these.

Councillors also noted that there was a high prevalence of ‘beds in sheds’ – unsuitable outbuildings turned into accommodation that doesn’t meet regulations.

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They heard that 149 properties were licensed under the additional licensing designation, and 3,635 properties were licensed under the selective licensing designation.

The council’s report found that there were now about 16,710 private rented properties in the borough, and 2,024 HMOs, with 12% of self-contained private rented properties predicted to have a serious hazard. A borough-wide additional licensing designation would cover a predicted 2,024 properties while a selective licensing designation would cover 14,686 properties.

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It believes licensing will also contribute to alleviating fuel poverty in Slough as measures to improve property standards will ensure that heating appliances are properly checked, maintained, and working efficiently while it would also help properties meet minimum energy efficiency requirements.

However, landlords wouldn’t get discounts for early applications or for membership of a landlord accreditation scheme, as the authority says this would only result in a shortfall in the amount of income from the fees needed to cover the cost running it. “The landlords paying the full fee would potentially be subsidising those paying the reduced fee.”

A 10-week consultation will be announced within the next month. After this, the proposals will be brought back to cabinet in the autumn.

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