Lack of landlord licence sees HMO closed
A house in multiple occupancy (HMO) has been closed in the first clampdown of rented properties that do not have a landlord licence.
The council acted after receiving numerous complaints regarding noise and anti-social behaviour from residents in the house with multiple tenants on Stoke Poges Lane.
When records were checked it was found that the landlord had not applied for, or been granted, a licence which is now a necessity for all HMOs across the borough, a law which came into effect on 1 July, this year.
When the council’s housing regulation and enforcement teams arrived they discovered the property was is poor repair with mould and damp and an inadequate smoke detection system. In addition, class A drugs, drug paraphernalia and knives were found so Thames Valley Police were called during the execution of the warrant under the Housing Act 2004 on 25 October.
Eight people were arrested and later released pending further investigation but they could not be prevented from returning to the property.
The council applied for a closure order under the Anti Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 7 November which was granted and the property was immediately emptied and will remain closed for the next three months.
Within hours of the order being granted the residents of the HMO were told to leave and could not return for the next three months. The landlord was also informed.
Rhian Richards, the council’s housing regulation manager, said: “As council officers secured the property local residents were quick to come out and thank the officers involved for resolving the matter as they had been suffering due to the poor management of the property for a long time.
“We want to send a message to bad landlords and anti-social tenants that we will take all necessary steps to ensure they comply with the law and the standard of accommodation in the borough will be improved.
“We will also take robust action to deal with serious anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, particularly where it is having a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of the community.”
The regulation team is now pursuing an investigation into offences under the Housing Act 2004 and will be engaging the property owners to ensure they comply with all relevant legislation in the future.
The aim of the new licensing system brought in by Slough Borough Council is to improve the standards of the thousands of rental properties, which are people’s homes, and make tenants safe.
Landlords have to provide evidence their property is safe and has a valid gas safe certificate. They will also be required to provide contact details so tenants can get problems fixed.
In addition, if a landlord is required to have obtained a licence and has not, tenants have the right to claim back any rent they have paid since 1 July. Eviction notices are also invalid if served by a landlord without a licence.
Under the new landlord licensing scheme a landlord of any rental property within the designated area covering parts of Chalvey and Central wards, is required to apply for and obtain a licence.
Applications for the Selective Licensing Scheme, for all rental properties within this designated area, will be subject to a charge of just £200 plus the £300 enforcement fee.
In the Additional Licence scheme each HMO property of up to six rooms attracts a £450 licence fee and a £300 enforcement fee. There will be an additional charge of £30 per extra room after the initial six.
All licences last for five years.
The council acted after receiving numerous complaints regarding noise and anti-social behaviour from residents in the house with multiple tenants on Stoke Poges Lane.
When records were checked it was found that the landlord had not applied for, or been granted, a licence which is now a necessity for all HMOs across the borough, a law which came into effect on 1 July, this year.
When the council’s housing regulation and enforcement teams arrived they discovered the property was is poor repair with mould and damp and an inadequate smoke detection system. In addition, class A drugs, drug paraphernalia and knives were found so Thames Valley Police were called during the execution of the warrant under the Housing Act 2004 on 25 October.
Eight people were arrested and later released pending further investigation but they could not be prevented from returning to the property.
The council applied for a closure order under the Anti Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 7 November which was granted and the property was immediately emptied and will remain closed for the next three months.
Within hours of the order being granted the residents of the HMO were told to leave and could not return for the next three months. The landlord was also informed.
Rhian Richards, the council’s housing regulation manager, said: “As council officers secured the property local residents were quick to come out and thank the officers involved for resolving the matter as they had been suffering due to the poor management of the property for a long time.
“We want to send a message to bad landlords and anti-social tenants that we will take all necessary steps to ensure they comply with the law and the standard of accommodation in the borough will be improved.
“We will also take robust action to deal with serious anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, particularly where it is having a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of the community.”
The regulation team is now pursuing an investigation into offences under the Housing Act 2004 and will be engaging the property owners to ensure they comply with all relevant legislation in the future.
The aim of the new licensing system brought in by Slough Borough Council is to improve the standards of the thousands of rental properties, which are people’s homes, and make tenants safe.
Landlords have to provide evidence their property is safe and has a valid gas safe certificate. They will also be required to provide contact details so tenants can get problems fixed.
In addition, if a landlord is required to have obtained a licence and has not, tenants have the right to claim back any rent they have paid since 1 July. Eviction notices are also invalid if served by a landlord without a licence.
Under the new landlord licensing scheme a landlord of any rental property within the designated area covering parts of Chalvey and Central wards, is required to apply for and obtain a licence.
Applications for the Selective Licensing Scheme, for all rental properties within this designated area, will be subject to a charge of just £200 plus the £300 enforcement fee.
In the Additional Licence scheme each HMO property of up to six rooms attracts a £450 licence fee and a £300 enforcement fee. There will be an additional charge of £30 per extra room after the initial six.
All licences last for five years.
