New rules considered on multiple occupation homes

Multiple wards across Medway could be affected

A council is considering bringing in a new licencing scheme for houses of multiple occupation (HMOs).

Medway Council is mulling rolling out the scheme in seven local authority wards amid a rise in HMOs and an increase in properties with issues such as mould or fire safety.

Licencing schemes are a tool councils can use for areas where there are high levels of anti-social behaviour, deprivation and poor-quality housing.

They can also be used where private landlords are seen to not be playing their part in combating such problems.

The proposal, which will be considered by council's cabinet this week, will affect properties in the Chatham Central and Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Strood North and Frindsbury and Watling wards.

All new rented properties in those areas will be required to have a licence and meet any additional demands the authority has.

If the council feels the applying property does not meet the standards required it can refuse the licence, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Analysis by Cadence Innova found 22% of shared-amenity HMOs in Medway have at least one serious hazard, which can relate to mould, fire safety, or electrical problems, among others.

Over a five-year period, the council received 339 complaints from tenants or neighbours relating to HMOs and 101 anti-social behaviour incidents were matched with specific properties of this kind.

The seven wards chosen for consideration of the new rules represent 52% of the private rental sector in Medway, totalling 14,809 properties.