Warning on homes law
LANDLORDS in West Lancashire could face penalties of up to £30,000 under laws coming into force next month.
The borough council is now reminding private sector landlords about the changes to the law relating to the licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
If landlords don’t comply with the legislation and licence any HMOs they have, they could be prosecuted or issued with a civil penalty.
If the council issues a civil penalty against a landlord who has failed to licence an HMO, they could be fined up to £30,000.
Landlords who face criminal proceedings for failing to register an HMO can face unlimited fines.
Currently, an HMO only has to be licensed if five or more people forming two or more households are living there who share cooking or bathing facilities and it has three or more storeys. From Monday, October 1, the requirement for the property to have three or more storeys is being removed.
An HMO must have a licence if five or more unrelated people forming two or more households are living there who share either cooking or bathing facilities, no matter how many storeys it has.
For example, a two-storey property rented by five or more unrelated students sharing a kitchen will need a licence from Oct 1.
Landlords can download a licence application form at www.westlancs. gov.uk/hmo or by contacting the council’s private sector housing team on 01695 585 279, or email privatesectorhousing@ westlancs.gov.uk
Private landlords can find useful advice on the council webpage, www. westlancs.gov.uk/landlords