“Landlords who rent out properties privately in a borough in east London could be the first in the country to face mandatory licensing under new proposals. Newham Council has started a 10-week consultation on proposals to introduce a licensing scheme for all private landlords that would see them and their properties subjected to legal checks. If the scheme is approved by councillors, it will be the first borough in England to license all private landlords.”
The Guardian, 29th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk