Council considers extending HMO licensing scheme to improve housing standards

Council considers extending HMO licensing scheme to improve housing standards

0:01 AM, 24th December 2024, About A day ago

Text Size

Worcester City Council says, despite the “majority of HMO landlords”, following the rules an additional licensing scheme could be introduced.

Worcester landlords are being asked for their views on whether a licensing scheme designed to improve standards in shared rented housing should continue for another five years, as the current scheme is due to end in August 2025.

The consultation on the additional licensing scheme will remain open until January 6, 2025.

Majority of landlords offer accommodation that meets expected standard

Worcester City Council has been running an “additional licensing” scheme for smaller Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) — properties with three or more occupants forming two or more households — since 2015.

Councillor Jabba Riaz, Chair of the City Council’s Communities Committee, said: “We know the majority of our landlords offer accommodation that meets the expected standards, but there are a few rogue operators out there and some tenants are afraid to speak up about them.

“The HMO additional licensing scheme sets out the standards that have to be met and helps to give tenants the confidence to talk to the City Council. That gives the council further powers to take enforcement action when we need to, in order to continue to drive forward improvements to the quality of rented housing across the city.”

Since the licensing scheme has been introduced the council has issued notices to nine HMOs where the licensing standards had been breached. In three cases, civil penalties were issued to landlords because improvements were not made.

National requirement for HMOs to be licensed

It is a national requirement for HMOs to be licensed if they have five or more occupants, forming two or more households and share one or more basic amenities, such as a toilet, washing facilities or a kitchen.

The additional licensing scheme extends this to smaller HMOs where there are three or more occupants forming two or more households and also to many houses that have been converted into self-contained flats.

Worcester landlords and residents can fill out the consultation here.


Share This Article


Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Automated Assistant Read More