Councils Crack Down on Rogue HMO Landlords
Councils Crack Down on Rogue HMO Landlords
Councils around the country are cracking down on unsafe Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) after a number of successful prosecutions against rogue landlords.
Individual fines issued by the courts have reached tens of thousands of pounds, which is a warning to those that do not comply with current regulations.
One of the larger fines was to a landlord in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, who was ordered to pay over £17,000 after pleading guilty to 23 offences regarding his HMO. The charges included failing to maintain the property to a safe and satisfactory condition and failure to comply with fire safety regulations.
Other significant fines were in Barnet at £10,000, Bristol at £7,500, Cambridge at £7,000 and Lincoln at £5,700. Additionally, landlords in Dartford, Fylde, Hillingdon and Sutton Coldfield suffered penalties.
The London Borough of Barnet has now implemented an amnesty as a result. HMO landlords in Barnet who are operating without a license must apply before 31st July 2015, or face prosecution.
Camden Council is also planning to introduce new licensing rules for landlords of shared accommodation. From December 2015, a new five-year license will only be granted if minimum standards are met. Camden Council hopes that living conditions for tenants within the borough will improve as a consequence.
Lincoln Council is proposing legislation that would limit the number of new HMOs. Their plans involve requiring landlords and property owners to gain planning permission before converting a property into an HMO.
