We want to hear your views: Additional Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing Scheme public consultation
Published: 18 January 2022
Redbridge Council has launched its proposals to renew the additional HMO property licensing scheme. The consultation will be open until 7 March 2022
The original scheme began in 2017 and is due to end on 7 April 2022. The proposals mean that landlords of rental properties occupied by 3 or 4 people forming two or more households will need to apply for a licence and meet the required minimum standards. This includes flat and house shares, bedsits and some buildings that are converted into flats. Those landlords who do not apply can face prosecution or hefty financial penalties of up to £30,000. If the licensing scheme is renewed it will help the council to continue improving HMO properties to make sure they are safe, well managed and well maintained.
The online consultation is available on the council’s website and consists of 24 questions. It is open to residents and all stakeholders including landlords, tenants, letting agents, and businesses.
Redbridge Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Vanisha Solanki, said: “I would ask the Redbridge community to consider renewing the scheme to help tackle rogue landlords, raise rental property standards, and ensure better management and safety for occupants. The Licensing conditions also help the council to address crime and anti-social behaviour, so I would therefore encourage all stakeholders to complete the online questionnaire”.
“Here in Redbridge not only has our population increased but since 2012 the private rented sector has increased by a staggering 64% based on 2019 estimates. The extent of poor housing conditions in the borough can be seen in the sheer volume of action taken by our housing enforcement team which includes issuing 530 financial penalties and serving over 3,000 notices. Property licensing is an intervention tool that allows local authorities to improve the condition and management of private rented properties”.
The Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, said: “Redbridge Council’s introduction of the House in Multiple Occupation licensing scheme in 2017 has empowered us to crack-down on landlords providing unsafe and poorly maintained housing.
“We introduced the HMO licensing scheme as part of a wider range of measures to improve living standards for local people. With more and more people living in private rented accommodation, local people now have the opportunity to feed into the consultation on extending the scheme to help protect conditions for people renting privately and support our council to continue cracking down on rogue landlords.”
The consultation is open until 7 March 2022. To take part go to: www.redbridge.gov.uk/hmoconsultation
If you would like to receive the consultation documents in an alternative format please email prslicensing@redbridge.gov.uk or write to Property Licensing Team, London Borough of Redbridge, 10th Floor Rear, 255 – 259 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1NY.
