Issue - meetings

HMO licence fee, Civil Penalties Enforcement and Amenity Standards Policies.

Purpose:

To Review the HMO licence fee and period, to renew the HMO Amenity Standards policy and the Civil Penalties Policy.

Recommendation(s):

That the Executive resolves to:

1. Amend the HMO Licence Fees as set out in this Report and for them to apply from 1st September 2025;

2. Approve the HMO licence period increases from 3 years to 5 years;

3. Approve the HMO Amenity Standards Policy and

4. Approve the Policy for Civil Penalties under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Social Care, introduced the item, the purpose of which was to review the HMO licence fee and period, to renew the HMO Amenity Standards policy and the Civil Penalties Policy. Councillor Saul noted that the new policies and standards being proposed took account of legislative changes and guidance, including the Renters’ Rights Bill. At present the Council had 36 HMO licences issued, which had previously been granted on three-year terms. Following the licence expiry a new licence was required. The proposed change was to a five-year licence period, with a risk rating approach to prioritising inspections. It was hoped that these changes would better use Council resources and improve the process for landlords.

In the discussion the following points were raised:

Council Officers met regularly with Officers from neighbouring districts to check and review fee levels and terms.
The change in the licence fee period and inspection process was not expected to reduce the standard of HMO. The Council decided when to inspect and was not therefore bound to only undertaking such inspections on grant of a licence.

Councillor Saul proposed accepting the recommendations of the report.

Councillor Smith seconded the recommendations

This was voted on and approved unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive:

1. Amend the HMO Licence Fees as set out in this Report and for them to apply

from 1st September 2025;

2. Approved the HMO licence period increases from 3 years to 5 years;

3. Approved the HMO Amenity Standards Policy and

4. Approved the Policy for Civil Penalties under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England)

Regulations 2020.

Issue - meetings

HMO licence fee, Civil Penalties Enforcement and Amenity Standards Policies.

Meeting: 09/07/2025 - Executive (Item 365)

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