9th
Jan 2024
The New Year welcomes in an additional HMO licensing scheme into London’s Greenwich borough.
The new scheme will include private rented properties which house three or more tenants living in separate households sharing a kitchen, toilet and bathroom.
This apparent ‘step forward’ for the borough-is for smaller HMOs alongside the Council’s existing mandatory HMO licensing scheme.
A statement from the council says: “These schemes allow us to regulate privately rented and multiple occupation homes so that they are kept safe and are properly managed, and ensures that tenants’ rights are protected. We encourage landlords to undergo training and make sure that there is a person who can be held accountable for every property. We vet each property to ensure they are fit to hold a licence. The conditions of the licence also act as a guide for landlords, making them aware of good practice.”
Within the borough it is classed as a criminal offence for any landlord to operate an HMO without a licence and those who do will face an unlimited fine.
Greenwich council currently runs a selective licensing scheme in central Woolwich and Plumstead for houses or flats let out to tenants.
A spokesperson for the authority says: “Every resident has the right to a safe and well-maintained home. Our additional HMO licensing scheme is therefore a step forward for the borough and great news for private tenants. As a council we are committed to improving the lives and homes of private tenants, and our property licensing schemes are key to this. We will continue to work hard to tackle rogue landlords who put their tenants at risk by failing to licence their properties.”
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