Bolton Council has launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce a boroughwide Additional Licensing Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
The consultation comes after Bolton Council introduced tough new rules to control the number of existing homes being converted into HMOs - the Article 4 Direction, enforced in June last year, requires anyone carrying out a HMO conversion to have full planning approval regardless of property size.
The proposed new licensing scheme is aimed at improving safety, property standards and management in privately rented shared accommodation, helping to protect tenants and improve neighbourhoods across the borough.
HMOs play an important role in providing housing for many residents, including people on lower incomes, younger adults and those unable to access other housing options.
While many landlords manage their properties responsibly, evidence shows that a growing number of smaller HMOs are poorly managed or unsafe, leading to issues such as fire safety risks, overcrowding, poor living conditions, waste problems and anti-social behaviour.
Currently, national licensing rules only apply to larger HMOs with five or more occupants and the council’s proposal would extend licensing to cover smaller HMOs with three or four occupants, as well as certain converted buildings where safety standards may be inadequate.
If approved, the Additional Licensing Scheme would apply across the whole of Bolton and would require landlords of affected properties to meet clear conditions relating to safety, property condition and management.
This would allow the council to identify HMOs, carry out inspections, and take action where standards fall short.
Under the proposals, a licence would cost £1,211 per property and would last for five years.
The council is now inviting feedback from residents, tenants, landlords, managing agents, businesses and organisations on whether the scheme should be introduced, how it should operate, and the proposed licence fee and discount arrangements.
Cllr Sean Fielding, Executive Member for Adults and Community Housing at Bolton Council said:
“This is another example of where the Council is seeking to use its limited powers to try and control the growth in the number of HMOs in Bolton. The first step was the introduction of the Article 4 direction, requiring smaller HMOs to apply for planning permission where previously they did not require it.
“If agreed following the consultation, I would hope that requiring HMOs to be licensed will drive unscrupulous HMO landlords out of town and improve the quality of those which do remain.
“However, the growth we’ve seen in HMOs locally is a sign of wider housing market failure which won’t be resolved until we build the homes we need, including many genuinely affordable homes that Bolton people can afford.
“I encourage people to have their say in the consultation.”
The consultation will run from 2nd February 12pm until Sunday 19th April 11.59pm.
People can share their views by completing the online survey, attending drop-in or virtual consultation events, or submitting comments by email or post.
Full details of the proposals, consultation documents and ways to take part are available here.