Legal & General (L&G) could be facing claims over an alleged two-year gap in submitting licensing applications for properties within a Lewisham development. A letter from Lewisham Council indicates that the licensing application for one tenant's home was submitted 744 days after the council's selective licensing scheme commenced on 1 July 2024.
Reports suggest that an additional 314 applications linked to the same L&G development are still pending. This situation has led to claims that L&G may face rent repayment orders and civil penalties, with some calculations suggesting an exposure potentially exceeding £15 million.
L&G has stated that its managing agent, Urbanbubble, had delegated responsibility for obtaining the necessary licences and had been in contact with the council since 2024. The company added that applications have now been made for all relevant properties and are currently pending.
Under Section 95 of the Housing Act 2004, a landlord has a defence once a valid licensing application has been duly made. However, the core allegation in this instance is that valid applications were not submitted until July 2026, nearly two years after the scheme's inception.