News
Kingston Council extends additional landlord licensing scheme until 2023
Kingston Council has given the green light to renew their additional licensing scheme for certain Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) for a further 5 years.
The council says that renewing the scheme will improve housing standards across shared rental properties not covered under the mandatory HMO licensing scheme. The council also believes the scheme will discourage under-occupation of large houses that can be used for affordable accommodation in the borough.
There are currently 224 HMO’s licensed under the council’s additional licensing scheme that was introduced in 2012 and expires in December 2017.
Consultation results
The council received 119 responses to their online survey of which 65% were from landlords. The council say that over half of those that responded felt that licensing helped to improve standards in the private rented sector although the National Landlords Association, Residential Landlords Association and National Approved Letting Scheme all submitted objections.
The council have said that the replacement additional licensing scheme will come into force on 1 March 2018 and continue for a further five years.
It will cover all HMOs that are one or two-storeys high and occupied by 5 or more people who share facilities such as bathrooms and kitchens.
The licensing scheme will also include all HMOs that are three or more storeys in height, regardless of the number of occupants.
Cllr Cathy Roberts, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing at Kingston Council, said:
“Kingston has a large student population and AHMOL helps to protect them, and other people living in shared accommodation, from unscrupulous landlords. To obtain a licence, landlords need to comply with stipulated safety standards, which safeguards against poor housing conditions, and stops overcrowding.“
Further information about the property licensing schemes in Kingston upon Thames is available at www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/kingston-upon-thames.
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