Big south coast hotspot to launch two licensing schemes
Brighton says the additional HMO and selective licencing schemes are needed to raise standards across the seaside city.
Agents and landlords in Brighton and Hove face more red tape after the city’s council revealed plans for extra licencing including for smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and a Selective Licensing Scheme for all private rented homes in certain areas.
Private sector licensing gives councils the ability to set conditions on property management and maintenance standards and allows enforcement action to be taken where requirements aren’t met.
FIVE PEOPLE OR MORE
Mandatory HMO licensing covers all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) that accommodate five people or more over two households or more.
Additional and selective licensing are schemes local authorities can introduce to address issues such as poor management standards and poor property conditions.
Brighton & Hove City Council say that the proposed Additional Licensing scheme would cover smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), with fewer households than Mandatory Licensed HMOs.
The five-year term of the city’s previous city-wide Additional HMO Licensing Scheme covered 1,900 HMOs across the City and came to an end earlier this year.
Four new areas would be covered by the scheme – including Kemptown, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queens Park and Whitehawk & Marina.
FURTHER LICENSING
The proposal also covers the option of introducing a further Selective Licensing Scheme covering 13 other areas in the city on the grounds of poor property conditions.
These include Brunswick & Adelaide, Central Hove, Goldsmid, Hanover & Elm Grove, Hollingdean & Fiveways, Preston Park, Regency, Rottingdean & West Saltdean, Round Hill, South Portslade, West Hill & North Laine, Westbourne & Poets Corner and Wish.
Councillor Gill Williams, Chair of the Housing & New Homes Committee, says: “We are keen to raise standards in privately rented homes in the city to make sure that all tenants in the sector live in safe, healthy and well-managed homes.
“We often hear from residents about their poor experiences and know the quality of management and maintenance is inconsistent.”
One side effect of the licensing scheme is that it creates an artificial scarcity of rooms for sharers.
In Bristol, about half of the 3-bed properties are unlicensed, meaning that they can only be rented to couples or families. As a result, many spare rooms are empty, landlords miss out on rent, and sharers are struggling to find accommodation.
I believe the same applies to Brighton, and it can easily be addressed, as suggested in my recent article on the topic: https://www.renthappily.co.uk/news/how-to-increase-profits-and-reduce-rents