What’s Changing at Luton Council? Three Updates for Landlords and Residents

There has been a significant change at Luton Council this month. Councillor Amjid Ali was elected the council’s new leader on 14 September 2026, and a new Executive team was confirmed on 24 September.

For landlords and property professionals, one appointment is particularly relevant: Councillor Rob Roche is responsible for Housing, Temporary Accommodation and Building Control. We will be watching how the new team approaches housing standards, licensing and the pressures facing residents and landlords.

Selective and additional licensing: applications remain unavailable

Luton Council says its online system for selective and additional property licensing is currently unavailable, so it cannot accept applications under those schemes at present.

The council has said it will announce when applications can be submitted again and give landlords a reasonable opportunity to apply before taking enforcement action for failing to hold a selective or additional licence.

That does not remove other duties. Landlords must continue to maintain their properties and meet the standards that apply to them. Mandatory HMO licensing and enforcement remain unaffected.

If you own a rental property in Luton, now is a sensible time to check which licensing scheme may apply, gather your documents and keep an eye on the council’s announcements. Don’t assume that a closed application portal means your property will never need a licence.

Food waste collections are coming to flats

The council is also extending food waste recycling to around 23,000 flats, with the rollout taking place in stages through March 2027.

For blocks of flats, the practical questions will be where caddies and communal bins go, how residents are told to use them, and who deals with contamination or overflowing waste. We will review the arrangements for the blocks we manage as the council confirms each rollout stage.

What happens next?

A new council leadership team creates an opportunity to address long-standing housing and neighbourhood issues. What matters now is clear communication and decisions that work in practice for residents, leaseholders and responsible landlords.

At MyEstate Luton, we will continue to monitor council updates and help our clients understand what action they need to take.

Richard Gedall MNAEA | AARLA
Director, MyEstate Luton Limited

Read Luton Council’s licensing update · Read about the food waste rollout