Originally published at: Property Licensing in 2023 | OpenRent Landlord Hub
Property licensing rules are different in every council in England and Wales. This fact in itself makes it incredibly difficult for landlords to navigate. The Housing Act 2004 gives councils the power to introduce and define the scope of additional HMO licensing and/or selective licensing in their area. This has led to wide variations in…
My HMO will now require AFDD electrical protection of dubious efficacy costing about £1000 if it not done before it will be mandatory at the next five year licence then insurance pay out after an electrical fire is very doubtful. Where I live in ipswich rooms can be found at £75 a week inclusive, of course not licensed. The more costly regulation imposed the more rent will be charged for licensed places,people will be forced into unsafe overcrowded property. At one time ipswich council imposed sprinkler system fire suppresion on HMO property,Anglia water could not guarantee water pressure so back to detection. HMO profitable? less so now maybe why I no longer have offers to buy mine several times a year have not had one for months and HMO properties increasingly up for sale
HMO licence conditions are guidance, not absolute requirements. You may be able to decline this and still get the licence. You should probably take advice from a specialist solicitor or HMO company.
I’m not sure if a license is needed for a single occupancy property with one bedroom, one bathroom, and one kitchen in Chelmsford, Essex. I’m confused because it seems that even non-HMOs require a license. I have already written to the county council about this.
I find all of this increasing council/government control very worrying as they seem to be trying to take control of private sector housing. A contract between a tenant and landlord is just that and has little to do with councils and governments. Where does this end?
The Landlord seems to be an assumed baddy taking advantage of poor tenants which is not true in the majority of cases.
All of these rules are aimed at cracking down on a few bad landlords but I find it very frustrating that good landlords get all these extra hoops to jump through and have to wear a straight jacket doing their private business.
Landlord Problems:-
Max deposits are too low (Landlord always loses out)
Removal of section 21 rights (it is hard enough to get rid of bad tenants as it is!)
EPC certificates (Private homeowner properties don’t have to do this)
Electrical certificates (Last time I had this done the so called electrician introduced a fault)
HMO regs (I always avoid these)
If the Government want to control rental housing why don’t they build their own?
I have decided to get out of renting properties shortly and feel sorry for young people trying to secure properties. Rental prices will only be driven up by landlords offsetting risk against potential losses due to tenants taking advantages of all the advantages they have.
1 Like
I dont think Chelmsford operates a Selective Licensing scheme at the moment and a single occupancy property wouldnt need any other licence.
Where licencing was introduced previously, how did it benefit tenants and landlords, to what extent? Any reliable data? I would like to know where that is published
This topic was automatically closed after 90 days. New replies are no longer allowed.