A scheme introduced by Bath & North East Somerset Council five years ago to ensure HMOs across the city are safe and managed correctly is to end later this year.
Landlords with properties housing three or four tenants sharing facilities have been told that the current Additional HMO Licensing Scheme will end on 31st December 2023.
The Additional HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Licence was introduced by the government and taken up by Bath and North East Somerset Council five years ago.
It seeks to ensure the safety and management of smaller HMOs.
The scheme covers around 1280 properties, including 823 previously unlicensed HMOs.
Landlords were required to register their property online to apply for the additional licence.
All registered properties were inspected by council officers and the licence holder was advised of any additional management or safety improvements that were required.
The scheme resulted in over 1,000 fire safety, heating, security, space and amenities improvements, including 293 upgrades to fire alarm systems.
The scheme also saw an increased general awareness of safety and amenities requirements for shared housing, and the council’s knowledge about the location and ownership of HMOs in Bath.
All current Additional HMO licences will expire on 31st December 2023, however, the council is considering the evidence for the implementation of any future schemes.
Councillor Matt McCabe, cabinet member for Built Environment and Sustainable Development, said: “The Additional HMO Licensing Scheme has done what it set out to do, improve standards and keep tenants safe by ensuring the effective and appropriate management of a property.
“Importantly it has also helped to reduce the impact of poor HMOs on the community. However we will continue to review all the evidence available to us over the coming months, to see if we need to begin a new scheme.
“I want to assure everyone that the Mandatory HMO licensing, introduced by the Housing Act 2004, continues to operate in Bath and North East Somerset and applies to shared houses or flats occupied by five or more people from different families where tenants share a toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities. It covers around 1200 properties across B&NES.”
Failing to have an HMO licence is a criminal offence and is liable on summary conviction to an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence.
An HMO, whether licensed or not, needs to be managed in accordance with the HMO Management Regulations 2006 and all rented homes be fitted with smoke alarms, a carbon monoxide detector and have a satisfactory electrical inspection condition report and gas safety certificate as well as meeting the Housing Act 2004 minimum statutory standard.
