Reading Borough Council has published a procurement opportunity for private rented sector licensing and inspection with an estimated value of an undisclosed value. The submission deadline is the date stated in the official notice, giving eligible UK suppliers a limited window to prepare and submit bids through the official Find a Tender portal.

Published on 2026-04-10, this contract is open to suitably qualified suppliers across the United Kingdom. All businesses interested in bidding should review the full tender documentation and confirm they meet all eligibility requirements before the closing date.

Contract overview

The Council currently operates a licensing scheme under the housing Act 2004 for larger houses in multiple occupation with 5 or more occupants, this is the national mandatory licensing scheme. Approximately 1,400 properties are licenced (or in the process of being licenced) on this scheme. The Housing Act contains provisions for the Council to designate discretionary licensing schemes, additional licensing to cover smaller houses in multiple occupation and selective licensing to cover all rented properties, within a designated area. The evidence to support introduction of discretionary licensing scheme was gathered through a Boroughwide Stock Condition Survey. The main features of the Stock Condition Survey included: o Reading's Private rented Sector (PRS) is now calculated to be 39.9% of all housing stock. o The PRS in Reading is distributed across all 16 wards. o Reading has a mixture of high and low deprivation wards. 8 of 16 wards have aggregated IMD rankings below the national average. o Reading has a lower proportion in fuel poverty (10.3%) than the national average. o There are 4,297 private rented properties in Reading that are likely to have at least 1 serious housing hazard distributed across all wards. o Reading Borough Council recorded 3,117 complaints and service requests from private tenants and others linked to PRS properties over 5-years. o 1,084 PRS properties are likely to fail the basic energy efficiency requirement. o Reading's house in multiple occupation (hmo) population has been estimated to comprise a total of 3,272 properties. o Analysis shows that 1,230 hmos in Reading are predicted to have at least one serious hazard. o During inspections, officers identified 701 Category 1 and 2 hazards (HHSRS). The full survey and accompanying report can be found in the papers for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee - Wednesday, 21st February, 2024 6.30 pm at democracy.reading.gov.uk 2.1.6 Following the stock condition report a statutory consul

Reading Borough Council is the contracting authority. The estimated value is an undisclosed value and the deadline is the date stated in the official notice. Download the full specification from the official portal before preparing a bid.

Is your business eligible?

This contract is most relevant to IT consultancies, software developers, managed service providers. Suppliers typically need to demonstrate experience delivering similar contracts, appropriate financial standing, and hold Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001.

Under the Procurement Act 2023, Reading Borough Council must actively consider SME participation. Check whether this contract has been structured into lots.

• Proven track record in it & technology contracts of comparable scope
• Financial standing appropriate for a an undisclosed value contract
• Relevant certifications: Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001
• Capacity to mobilise within Reading Borough Council’s required timeframe

How to submit a bid

• Step 1 — Access the notice: Visit Find a Tender at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032724-2026
• Step 2 — Register free: Create or log in to your supplier account
• Step 3 — Download documents: Read the full ITT before preparing your response
• Step 4 — Raise clarifications: Submit questions early — Q&A typically closes 1–2 weeks before the deadline
• Step 5 — Submit before the date stated in the official notice: Late submissions are not accepted

What the buyer will evaluate

Reading Borough Council will assess all compliant bids against published criteria. Buyers typically apply a 60% quality and 40% price weighting. Under the Procurement Act 2023, social value is a mandatory evaluation criterion.

Writing a winning bid

• Lead with an executive summary addressing Reading Borough Council’s objectives directly
• Provide two or more case studies with measurable outcomes from comparable contracts
• Include specific, costed social value commitments
• Price to win but ensure your margin covers full delivery

Frequently asked questions

Can SMEs bid for this contract?

Yes. The Procurement Act 2023 requires Reading Borough Council to consider SME suitability and remove unnecessary barriers.

Is registration on the portal free?

Yes. Registering as a supplier on Find a Tender is completely free.

Where are the full tender documents?

All documents are on the official Find a Tender listing at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032724-2026.

This article is for informational purposes only. Always verify all details on the official procurement portal before submitting a bid. Kael Tripton is not affiliated with or endorsed by Reading Borough Council or the UK government.