Does selective licensing apply throughout Bexley?

The verified council scheme covers Belvedere Ward, not the whole borough. Its published period is 13 January 2025 to 12 January 2030. Use Bexley Council's property checker and exemption guidance for the actual letting. A Sidcup or Welling property should not be assigned Belvedere requirements simply because it shares the same managing agent.

What should I check before converting a Sidcup house into an HMO?

Speak to Bexley Council about both licensing and planning before committing to the conversion. The council's guidance highlights an Article 4 direction affecting changes from dwelling houses to small HMOs. Occupant numbers, households, room arrangements and shared facilities all matter. Safety certificates support the property file but do not establish that the proposed use has planning consent.

Can an Erith flat landlord authorise repairs to a communal pipe?

Not necessarily. The lease and block management arrangements should establish who can instruct work and arrange access to shared supplies. Ask the building manager whether other flats are affected and whether isolation requires notice. Peachtree Maintenance can investigate an agreed private repair scope, but work on a communal system needs the appropriate instruction and coordination.

How can I organise inspections for occupied houses in Welling?

Collect each tenant's access arrangements, previous reports and details of alterations before proposing visits. Welling houses may have added kitchens, loft accommodation or garden supplies that need to be understood when an electrical inspection is scoped. Keep the visit record and remedial decisions against the individual property so an inspection date is not confused with completion of all follow-up work.

Property maintenance in Bexley | Peachtree Maintenance

Property maintenance and compliance in Bexley

Peachtree Maintenance coordinates repairs and compliance work for Bexley landlords and property managers, covering suburban houses, converted properties and riverside apartments. A Welling family home and an Erith flat can require different access permissions and inspection scopes, so records and responsibilities are checked against the individual dwelling.

Family homes between the railway corridors

Welling, Bexleyheath and Sidcup have extensive suburban housing supported by rail routes into London, with interwar semis, terraces and later infill developments forming an important part of the rental stock. Properties that look similar externally can have different extensions, heating layouts and electrical alterations. For maintenance purposes, the useful starting point is the present accommodation: where the boiler sits, which rooms have been added and whether previous inspection recommendations were resolved.

Blackfen and Albany Park include family housing where occupied repairs need practical coordination rather than simply leaving an appointment message. Access to a loft hatch, rear extension or under-stair cupboard may need preparation by the tenant. Give clear notice of the spaces involved and any likely interruption to services. A detailed access note helps keep the inspection focused on the correct installation while respecting the household's use of the home.

Riverfront buildings and older town centres

Erith and Belvedere combine established residential streets, flats and redevelopment towards the Thames. Managed apartment buildings can place water supplies, meter cupboards and common corridors under a freeholder or block manager. An individual landlord should establish those boundaries before authorising work. A repair affecting a shared riser is not equivalent to replacing a tap inside the flat, even when the first sign of trouble appears in the tenant's bathroom.

In Bexley village and Crayford, older buildings and mixed-use streets add another layer of access and maintenance considerations. Flats above shops may be reached from a separate passage, and converted accommodation can share a front door without sharing every service. Peachtree Maintenance provides photo evidence on every job, giving agents a clear record of the inspected area, completed repair and any issue that needs a different owner's instruction.

Belvedere licensing and wider portfolio records

Bexley Council confirms a selective licensing designation covering Belvedere Ward, operative from 13 January 2025 to 12 January 2030. Check the address against the council checker and published exemptions rather than using a DA postcode or the general name Belvedere as a boundary. A conventional single-household rental can fall within selective licensing, while a property requiring an HMO licence follows the relevant HMO route.

For shared houses elsewhere in the borough, national mandatory HMO licensing is an important starting point, but the council should confirm the full position for the proposed use. Planning status must be considered separately. Across a Sidcup, Welling and Slade Green portfolio, Peachtree Maintenance can coordinate inspection dates, digital certificates and remedial evidence through one point of contact. Monthly consolidated invoicing for agents can support accounts without merging the separate property histories.

Licensing in Bexley

Bexley operates selective licensing for eligible privately rented homes in Belvedere Ward, subject to exemptions including properties requiring an HMO licence. The scheme runs from 13 January 2025 to 12 January 2030.

Read the details on the Bexley Council website. Last checked 2026-10-20. Schemes change, so confirm before letting.