City of York Council is preparing a new inspection programme with a revised licensing fee schedule to support new laws regarding the regulation of houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs), which come into effect on 1 October of this year.
Smaller properties will now have to be licensed as HMOs, as will all properties occupied by five or more people in two or more separate households.
The new law also requires that bedrooms must be of a minimum size, have a maximum number of occupants and adequate storage. to prevent overcrowding.
Landlords are being given up to 18 months to comply with the new bedroom requirements and to address any overcrowding, but in preparation the changes the council is putting together a new inspection programme and revised licensing fees.
Inspections will take place in response to information provided by landlords and will take into account known risk factors including the history of landlords and higher-risk properties. Where landlords fail to comply, fines up to £30,000 can be considered.
Cllr Helen Douglas, executive member for housing and safer neighbourhoods said: “We want to tackle poor landlord practises which can lead to overcrowding, poor management of tenant behaviour, failure to meet health and safety standards, housing of illegal immigrants and tenant intimidation when legitimate complaints are made.
“The impact of a small minority of disreputable landlords puts tenants at risk and adversely affects local communities.”