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Councils Crack Down on Rogue HMO Landlords
This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
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.
