More Controls on Houses in Multiple Occupation

9.56.25pm GMT Mon 27th Feb 2006

Greater powers to make privately rented flats and bedsits safer for tenants are now at the disposal of the Council, which intends to make full use of new ways of controlling the running of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

At present, landlords are expected to register with the Council but they do not have to be licenced. This is all about to change.

Higher risk properties - those with three storeys or more, and with five or more tenants - will have to be properly licensed. Failure to do so could result in the landlord being fined £20,000.

Licensing conditions will require tougher fire regulations, more control over levels of occupancy, tenant behaviour and improvements to properties, and ensuring that people aren't shunted into inappropriate parts of a building.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Irene Henderson, cabinet member responsible for housing, said: "Private tenants should have the right to know they are living in safe accommodation, and these extra powers are long overdue.

"In the past, we have largely had to rely on the co-operation and goodwill of private landlords. These new powers will enable us to work more closely with landlords to make sure safety standards in these buildings are at an acceptable level.

"The new powers should also eventually allow us to step in where a landlord is behaving irresponsibly by allowing tenants to get away with anti-social behaviour. If we have to, we will be able to take over the running of a property to tackle any nuisance."