Preston Council has proposed new powers to reject HMO applications amid fears that the city is already being over-run by shared homes.
Gateshead is to push ahead with new property licensing schemes despite local landlords and letting agents opposing them including 93% saying the fees are ‘too high’.
All private landlords in Barking and Dagenham must get a licence from April following the introduction of its selective scheme.
A Portsmouth rent-to-rent agency which let out overcrowded and unlicensed HMOs has been handed a hefty fine.
Ealing Council has ramped up its crackdown on rogue landlords with a rigorous programme of HMO inspections.
West Northamptonshire Council has given the go-ahead for an extended additional licensing scheme in Northampton.
A landlord couple who ignored requests from the local authority and Planning Inspectorate to stop using their property as an HMO have been fined £18,000.
One of London’s largest boroughs is the latest to tighten planning controls when granting permission for smaller HMOs, namely those accommodating between three and six unrelated tenants who share common services.
Licencing schemes are a blunt instrument, pointlessly cost compliant landlords hundreds of pounds, are ignored by rogue operators and consume scarce council resources.
