Councillors in Warwick look set to decide tomorrow whether to implement an additional licensing scheme for some HMOs.
Following a public consultation which took place earlier in the year, councillors will be meeting to examine the survey results and decide whether to extend the current scheme to households comprising three and four persons as well as tenants living in purpose-built blocks of flats including student accommodation.
Under the current regulations only HMOs with five or more persons living as two or more households are subject to mandatory licensing.
Councillor Paul Wightman, Portfolio Holder for Housing, says: “There are around 600 HMOs already licensed under ‘mandatory licensing’ in our district and in the region of 800 HMOs which would be required to obtain a license under an ‘additional licensing’ scheme.
"Including more homes under our umbrella would ensure that landlords of HMOs submit detailed information regarding themselves and their properties including important safety documents such as fire alarms, gas and electrical safety certificates.
"If approved, it will also mean that properties are thoroughly inspected by council officers before a licence is issued to ensure they meet minimum standards with conditions requiring the landlord to maintain and manage the property effectively.
"This measure can only increase the level of assurance that can be provided to residents who live in these properties and will undoubtedly help to keep people safe.”
If councillors this week back the scheme it’s likely to come into effect in Januar
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“ will help to keep people safe”, what utter nonsense there is no empirical evidence to show that unlicensed properties are any great danger on risk cost basis than licensed properties, which is what they should be considering. How many lives is licensing going to saved? I would suggest none. It is all pure rhetoric which will increase the cost of providing HMO accommodation, and put many potential landlords off so increasing rents so possibly good news for existing HMO landlords.
Contrary to popular conception licensing is not a money making scheme as it is not generally realised that local authorities are so bureaucratic and inefficient that whatever they charge for licensing does not cover the cost of issuing the license. licensing turns out to be the beast that devours its own creator. Licensing takes up so much of housing officers time, so deflecting them from there purpose of looking after tenants. Anyone who works in Housing, must realise the pointlessness of licensing and I often wonder how having a bull***t job must have on them. By the way, don’t try asking your housing officer how they feel about having a pointless job, it does not go down well!
Jim HaliburtonTheHMODaddy
So it is simply a rent rise for tenants & a bureaucratic exercise for LLs!
"Anyone who works in Housing, must realise the pointlessness of licensing and I often wonder how having a bull***t job must have on them."
The point of licensing is to make sure people have a suitable home to live in that is safe and up to regulation. Avoiding a license is pretty immoral don't you think?
If the public only knew 🤔 they’d understand why landlords are getting out 🆘💰💰
LYING TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT YOUR SCAMS IS PRETTY IMMORAL DON'T YOU THINK
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