Royal Greenwich introduces new licence for smaller HMOs

Royal Greenwich introduces new licence for smaller HMOs

0:06 AM, 3rd January 2024, About 11 months ago 1

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A licence for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) is now required by most landlords in Royal Greenwich after a new scheme went live on 1 January 2024.

The additional HMO licensing scheme covers properties where three or more residents from different households share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

The council says the scheme is for smaller HMOs and works with the existing mandatory HMO licensing scheme.

‘Right to a safe and well-maintained home’

Royal Greenwich’s cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, Coun Ann-Marie Cousins, said: “Every resident has the right to a safe and well-maintained home.

“Our additional HMO licensing scheme is therefore a step forward for the borough and great news for private tenants.”

She adds: “As a council we are committed to improving the lives and homes of private tenants, and our property licensing schemes are key to this.

“We will continue to work hard to tackle rogue landlords who put their tenants at risk by failing to licence their properties.”

Regulate rented and multiple occupation homes

The council claims the schemes help them to regulate rented and multiple occupation homes, ensuring they are safe and well-managed, and protect tenants’ rights.

It is now urging landlords to take training and appoint a responsible person for each property.

The council says it will check each property to see if they qualify for a licence. The licence conditions also inform landlords of good practice.

It also warns that landlords who run an HMO without a licence commit a crime – and risk an unlimited fine if they intentionally evade licensing.

The council also runs a selective licensing scheme in central Woolwich and Plumstead for houses or flats rented to single people, couples or families.

There is more information on private rented property licensing on the council’s website.


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Arthur Oxford

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11:09 AM, 6th January 2024, About 11 months ago

“We will continue to work hard to tackle rogue landlords who put their tenants at risk by failing to licence their properties.”
Sadly, I think this statement pretty much sums up the mentality of most councillors who believe that a piece of paper and perhaps one inspection by their Housing Department every five years is going to stop "rogue landlords". "Rogue Landlords" operate outside the law, so they will not know who they are and it is that specific area that Housing Departments should be investigating with the legislation that has always been in place.
The main point, however, is that they seem to believe that by not having a licence, a landlord is immediately putting their tenants "at risk", whatever that broad statement means.
None of my properties currently require a licence, so, by not having one, are my tenants suddenly "at risk"? Utter bilge!

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