News
Royal Borough of Greenwich HMO Licensing consultation ending soon!
The Royal Borough of Greenwich have issued a reminder for landlords, letting agents, tenants and residents to comment on plans to license all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) before the public consultation ends on 24 February 2017.
Licensing already extends to all HMOs with three or more storeys occupied by five or more people who are not all related. The council say that HMO licensing helps to ensure that this type of housing meets legal health and safety standards, is well run and provides at least a basic range of facilities which tenants can expect.
The Royal Borough now wants to hear peoples’ views on its proposals to extend licensing to all HMOs. This would include house and flat-shares occupied by three or more people not all related, even if they are all on one tenancy agreement.
The council say they want to work with landlords to drive up standards and improve both the quality and management of such accommodation. Tenants living in a licensed HMO can then rent with confidence knowing that their property has been properly inspected and licensed by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Landlords can also advertise that there property has been licensed and meets legal standards.
Greenwich Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Environment Councillor Jackie Smith said:
“The level of participation in our HMO consultation to date has been really encouraging. It’s so important we that we hear from as many people affected by these changes as possible; that includes landlords living outside of the borough renting out properties here in Greenwich.
“We continue to keep building on our proactive approach to driving up accommodation standards for residents while tackling rogue landlords and illegal HMOs. These proposals will form an integral part of this strategy and it’s vital that residents make their voice heard as we consult on them“.
The consultation ends on the 24 February. To give us your views please go online to: www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/hmolicensingconsultation
Alternatively, you can give us your comments:
- By letter to: Private Rented Sector Housing Enforcement Team, Directorate of Community Services, Royal Borough of Greenwich, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London SE18 6HQ
- By email to: hmo-licensing@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
Any comments you give us will be held electronically and held in strictest confidence. If you do not have internet access at home, free Wi-Fi and computers are available in any public library in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
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