Report non-registered privately rented houses

Finally the Council has agreed to take a hard line with landlords of houses in multiple occupation (e.g. flats, bedsits and shared houses) that have failed to come forward and become licensed, as required by the Housing Act 2004.

The legal requirement to licence certain types of houses in multiple occupation came into force on the 6 April 2006 and since that time the Council has been processing and issuing licences for these properties. To be licensed, the property must be free from serious hazards, be well managed by a ‘fit and proper’ manager and have adequate amenities and facilities for the number of people living there. There is a five yearly charge for being licensed, which for a building with five units of accommodation is currently £340.

Thankfully, the Council is now starting to concentrate on those landlords that have not licensed their properties. Those landlords who have not come forward to licence their properties and have had to be tracked down by the Council will be charged an additional £100 on their licence fee. This sum will cover the cost of the work in trying to identify them.

Landlords can also be prosecuted for not licensing their properties. Currently the maximum fine for failing to licence a property is £20,000. We hope the Council will take prosecution action where appropriate. A landlord may also be ordered to repay the rent to the tenants for the period the property was without a licence.

Landlords have a responsibility to ensure that the appropriate standards are met and however, we know there are landlords who have not yet contacted the Council and this crackdown will help identify those properties which are not up to standard.

Do you know of any privately rented house in Oldfield Park which you feel should be licensed as it is three stores high (including a basement, or a loft conversion)?

Please report this property to the Council's Housing Services on 01225 396269.