A member of a national body representing more than a million landlords across the UK has described a proposed, compulsory licensing scheme for landlords as "an abuse of legislation" which would penalise responsible renters. 

Private landlords could be subject to tighter controls under Redbridge council plans to tackle anti-social behaviour and improve the quality and standard of accommodation. 

Under the scheme, which is to be debated at the Neighbourhood and Community Service Committee on November 5, each private property must apply for a five-year licence at the discounted price of £250 for the first three months of it being introduced, or £500 thereafter. 

Properties would be inspected to ensure they meet acceptable standards.

Newham, Barking and Dagenham and Waltham Forest councils have all become designated licensing areas. 

A quarter of homes in Redbridge are rented in the private sector, with 1,538 in Snaresbrook, 1,004 in Roding ward and 644 in Wanstead.

Richard Blanco of the National Landlord Association (NLA) rents two properties in Ilford.  

He said: "I'm very disappointed to see another copycat borough-wide landlord licensing scheme in east London. 

"As with other schemes it is the good landlords who will pay for licenses and the borough will still have to seek out the bad ones. 

"This is an abuse of legislation that was intended to deal with anti-social behaviour as a last resort in targeted areas, not for driving up property standards. We need local authorities to make better use of their existing powers.

"The local authority risks alienating the very people it desperately needs to provide accommodation.

"Licensing requires huge bureaucracy and this is a waste of council resources. Existing powers could be better used through intelligence led enforcement. 

"We have seen tokenism consultations in other boroughs where politicians have no interest in listening to landlords and then impose very onerous and poorly drafted licensing conditions. 

"This is local councillors posturing so they look like they are doing something to ‘sort out bad landlords’ when there is little evidence that licensing can improve housing for local residents." 

Redbridge council leader Jas Athwal said tougher regulations in Newham have led to about 300 rogue landlords and criminals being sanctioned. 

He said: "Anti-social behaviour is on the increase. Sometimes tenants and landlords don't accept ownership or responsibility so this is about tackling a whole raft of issues. 

"There are huge areas of deprivation in Redbridge with many landlords not providing adequate accommodation and taking the relevant safety checks. If this market is not regulated, it will become a real issue. 

"Redbridge must continue to be a destination of choice and not a safe haven for people banned or thrown out of other boroughs. 

The NLA is holding a meeting for landlords in Redbridge on December 9 from 7pm at Fairlop Waters in Forest Road, Barkingside.