Time to sign up to new landlord licence
Landlords are being warned that tenants have more rights if they do not sign up to the new licensing scheme which came into effect this month.
Tenants can claim back all the rent they have paid and cannot legally be evicted from a property by an unlicensed landlord.
Every landlord of a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in the borough, around 3000 properties, needed the new licence from July 1.
Under the new scheme a landlord with any rental property within the designated area covering parts of Chalvey and Central wards, will also be required to apply for and obtain a licence.
The aim of the new licensing system brought in by Slough Borough Council is to improve the standards of the thousands of houses and bedsits, 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 and for neighbours to address any concerns with the house in their neighbourhood.
The scheme became operational on July 1 with all qualifying landlords obliged to have a licence in place by October 1. After this time landlords will be committing an offence and can be prosecuted and could face fines of up to £30,000.
Slough has more than the national average of rental accommodation in the borough which currently stands at 33 per cent. In the Central and Chalvey wards 50 per cent of all homes are privately rented accommodation.
Cllr Mohammed Nazir, cabinet member for housing and community safety, said: “This is not a money making scheme for the council. The fees are being ring fenced for the sole purpose of bringing up standards of properties in Slough.
“Over the past few months we have issued fines of almost £60,000 to landlords who have breached HMO management regulations and we are taking one landlord to civil court.
“Those who are the landlords of a HMO anywhere in the borough, or those whose properties fall into the selective licensing scheme, will be prosecuted unless they comply.
“This is about making accommodation in Slough habitable for sometimes the most vulnerable members of society.”
“Ultimately tenants can ask to see their landlord’s licence and if their landlord does not have one, the tenant is perfectly within their rights to claim any rent they have paid from July 1. Eviction notices are also invalid if produced by a landlord without a licence. It is in both the tenants and the landlords, interest to get one by October 1.”
There is an early bird discount for landlords applying for the licences before the October 1 deadline.
In the Additional Licence scheme each HMO property of up to six rooms will attract a £450 licence. There will be an additional charge of £30 per extra room after the initial six.
Applications for the Selective Licensing Scheme, for all rental properties within a designated area, will be subject to a charge of just £200.
All licences last for five years.
After October 1 all licences will attract an additional enforcement fee of £300 per property.
Licences can be applied for here http://www.slough.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/property-licensing.aspx and there is a map online which shows which roads are included in the selective licensing scheme.
Tenants can claim back all the rent they have paid and cannot legally be evicted from a property by an unlicensed landlord.
Every landlord of a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in the borough, around 3000 properties, needed the new licence from July 1.
Under the new scheme a landlord with any rental property within the designated area covering parts of Chalvey and Central wards, will also be required to apply for and obtain a licence.
The aim of the new licensing system brought in by Slough Borough Council is to improve the standards of the thousands of houses and bedsits, 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 and for neighbours to address any concerns with the house in their neighbourhood.
The scheme became operational on July 1 with all qualifying landlords obliged to have a licence in place by October 1. After this time landlords will be committing an offence and can be prosecuted and could face fines of up to £30,000.
Slough has more than the national average of rental accommodation in the borough which currently stands at 33 per cent. In the Central and Chalvey wards 50 per cent of all homes are privately rented accommodation.
Cllr Mohammed Nazir, cabinet member for housing and community safety, said: “This is not a money making scheme for the council. The fees are being ring fenced for the sole purpose of bringing up standards of properties in Slough.
“Over the past few months we have issued fines of almost £60,000 to landlords who have breached HMO management regulations and we are taking one landlord to civil court.
“Those who are the landlords of a HMO anywhere in the borough, or those whose properties fall into the selective licensing scheme, will be prosecuted unless they comply.
“This is about making accommodation in Slough habitable for sometimes the most vulnerable members of society.”
“Ultimately tenants can ask to see their landlord’s licence and if their landlord does not have one, the tenant is perfectly within their rights to claim any rent they have paid from July 1. Eviction notices are also invalid if produced by a landlord without a licence. It is in both the tenants and the landlords, interest to get one by October 1.”
There is an early bird discount for landlords applying for the licences before the October 1 deadline.
In the Additional Licence scheme each HMO property of up to six rooms will attract a £450 licence. There will be an additional charge of £30 per extra room after the initial six.
Applications for the Selective Licensing Scheme, for all rental properties within a designated area, will be subject to a charge of just £200.
All licences last for five years.
After October 1 all licences will attract an additional enforcement fee of £300 per property.
Licences can be applied for here http://www.slough.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/property-licensing.aspx and there is a map online which shows which roads are included in the selective licensing scheme.
