Have Your Say On Multiple Occupancy

A public consultation on proposed new licensing rules for houses in multiple-occupation (HMOs) is being launched.

An HMO is a house or flat let to people who aren’t related, and who share a facility such as a kitchen or bathroom. Currently, HMOs with five or more tenants and three or more floors require a licence to operate from the Council. Under the proposed new rules, the Council could decide that all HMOs would also need a licence.  An area centred around the Wards of Oldfield, Westmoreland and Widcombe has been initially identified as an area that may benefit from a scheme.

By licensing properties the Council can require certain standards. If the new rules for HMOs are introduced:

• Landlords will have to show that their properties are well managed and safe;

• Tenants will enjoy improved standards, meaning their homes are safer and healthier;

• Neighbours will be able to look at a public register of HMOs to find out who manages rented properties near them, so they will know who to contact if problems occur;

• Landlords and property owners will receive better support, free help and advice from the Council. They will know that consistent standards are being enforced across the area and that bad landlords will not be tolerated;

• The Council will have better enforcement powers and be able to ensure that properties are run by good landlords who comply with all the necessary regulations;

• Where landlords are unwilling to or are unable to meet the requirements of licensing, the Council could step in to manage the properties.

Cardiff City Council has run a licensing scheme for smaller HMOs since 1^st July 2010, which has driven down noise nuisance and fire safety complaints.

Councillor Tim Ball (Lib-Dem, Twerton), Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning, said, “The proposed new rules will guarantee good standards for everyone living in smaller HMOs and drive out bad landlords. Local people will be the ones who benefit from these new rules. Neighbours will be able to have their complaints resolved more quickly because Bath & North East Somerset Council will have more powers to act. We are keen to hear people’s views on the proposals so that we can take them into consideration.”

Hanna Wade, Community Officer at the University of Bath Students’ Union, added, “Licensing of HMOs could have a big impact on landlords, tenants and local residents and it is important that as many people as possible contribute towards this consultation so that as many views as possible are taken into consideration and an informed decision can be made.“

The public consultation will run from 17^th September 2012 to 30^th November 2012.  There will be drop-in events between 17^th – 27^th October 2012 around Bath. For the locations of these, more information and to have your say, visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/hmos