Bath and North East Somerset Council has confirmed it will end its current additional HMO licensing scheme on 31st December 2023.
The licence — which covers around 1280 properties, including 823 previously unlicensed HMOs —was introduced by the government and taken up by the council in 2018, seeking to ensure the safety and management of smaller HMOs.
Landlords with properties housing three or four tenants sharing facilities were required to register their dwelling online to apply for the additional licence — all registered properties were inspected by council officers and the licence holder was advised of any additional management or safety improvements that were required.
According to the council, the scheme resulted in over 1000 fire safety, heating, security, space, and amenities improvements, including 293 upgrades to fire alarm systems.
It also is reported to have increased general awareness of safety and amenities requirements for shared housing and the council’s knowledge about the location and ownership of HMOs in Bath.
Cllr Matt McCabe, cabinet member for Built Environment and Sustainable Development within Bath and North East Somerset, commented: “The additional HMO licensing scheme has done what it set out to do — improve standards and keep tenants safe by ensuring the effective and appropriate management of a property.
“However, we will continue to review all the evidence available to us over the coming months, to see if we need to begin a new scheme.
“I want to assure everyone that the mandatory HMO licensing — introduced by the Housing Act 2004 — continues to operate in Bath and Northeast Somerset and applies to shared houses or flats occupied by five or more people from different families where tenants share a toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities.”
