Peterborough landlords to face fines for unlicensed properties
City landlords only have days left to register for new HMO licence
Thousands of landlords and management agents in Peterborough are being reminded that they have less than a week to comply with a new property licensing initiative.
From Sunday April 26, all landlords of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) must have the correct accreditation and documentation in place for their properties.
Owners of a property which is occupied by three or four persons (who are not all related) who share facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom or toilet are likely to need an HMO licence.
Peterborough City Council is urging everyone who this may impact to check if the properties they own or manage require licences.
“We are reminding people that it is a criminal offence for an agent to operate or manage a licensable property without a valid licence in place after this date, “ said Jacqui Harvey, Head of Regulatory Services.
The city-wide scheme, which came into force on 26 January, applies to smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) that are not subject to Mandatory HMO Licensing.
“Landlords with unlicensed HMO properties, and those who fail to adhere to the conditions of the licence, will run the risk of heavy financial penalties,” Ms Harvey said.
In fact, owners of unlicensed HMO properties can face a civil penalty notice of up to £30,000, or an unlimited fine from the courts.
In addition, they could also be ordered to repay up to 12 months’ rent, have their licence revoked and/or see the council take over the management of their property.
With this in mind, Ms Harvey said it is “vitally important that any property owners affected by the scheme apply for licences without delay.”
It is estimated the scheme will apply to around 2,000 properties within the city. Impacted landlords will need to pay £1,100 for the additional licence, which will remain valid for five years.
Ms Harvey urged any landlords who may be unsure about the process to reach out for more information:
“If you are unsure if your property is affected or want advice or support with your application, please contact our Housing Standards team who will be happy to assist you.”