We need tighter regulation of HMOs
April 24th 2007
Alan Whitehead last week spoke to Highfield residents about improving the quality and distribution of HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupancy) across the city.
Speaking at the Highfield Residents Association AGM, Dr Whitehead highlighted the need for Southampton City Council to use powers given to it in the 2004 Housing Act to regulate smaller HMOs by introducing an additional licensing scheme for the city. Such a scheme would impose strict standards about how HMOs are managed, both in terms of the quality of tenant accommodation and in terms of an HMO’s impact on the broader community. Larger HMOs are already required to be licensed.
Dr Whitehead also reported on his research into measures used in Northern Ireland to regulate how many family homes are allowed to be converted into HMOs and whether a similar scheme could be introduced in England.
Speaking after the AGM, Dr Whitehead said:
“Many people in Southampton, particularly young people, want to live in affordable rented accommodation. An additional licensing scheme would help to ensure they are living in homes that are decent, safe and properly managed.
“But we must balance the need for good quality rented accommodation with a good supply for affordable homes for those who are ready to buy. A lot of new help for first time buyers is available in the form of shared ownership schemes, key worker loans and the requirement that all new housing and flat developments contain at least 25% of units that are affordable to first time buyers. But those achievements are to some extent being cancelled out by the number of family homes being taken out of the property market all together and rented out as HMOs.
I believe the time has come to give councils the power to regulate the number of family homes that can be converted into HMOs and I will be working with the Parliamentary HMO lobby to make this happen.”
More information
- An additional licensing scheme for the landlords of smaller HMOs would mean that, in order to be allowed to rent out a property, a landlord would have to apply for a license from the City Council. The council can then assess the property for:
- suitability for the proposed number of occupiers,
- the suitability of the appliances within the property (such as toilets, cooking facilities and bathrooms),
- the suitability of the landlord to manage the property
- general suitability of the management arrangements
The Council would have the right to withdraw the license if they received evidence that the landlord was not keeping his or her property up to proper standards, or if their tenants were persistently disturbing their neighbours.