Estate agent slams council’s HMO licensing ‘double standards’
Scott Brown of Littlejohns has slammed Edinburgh city council for housing homeless people in HMOs, which have not been licensed.
An agent has slammed Edinburgh city council for “double standards” after housing homeless people in unlicensed HMO properties.
Scott Brown, who is Maintenance Manager with letting agency Littlejohns based in the Scottish capital, says the council should not be breaking its own rules.
As a letting agent, it’s frustrating to see such double standards in housing regulations.”
“As a letting agent, it’s frustrating to see such double standards in housing regulations.
“Private landlords are rightly held to strict standards, including licensing for HMOs, to ensure tenants’ safety and access to quality accommodation.
“However, the council’s widespread use of unlicensed temporary accommodation undermines these principles,” he says.
Littlejohns manages 850 properties in Edinburgh, and has 150 HMOs on its books.
Illegal HMOs
Enquiries by the Local Democracy Reporting Service found that the council was using 30 illegal HMOs, with around 700 rooms currently occupied in non-compliant shared houses.
“We work extremely hard on behalf of our clients to ensure properties under our management are compliant with the HMO rules set by Edinburgh Council, and we feel strongly that the same rules should apply to all housing providers, whether private or public,” Brown adds.
Edinburgh Council now spends around £50 million a year on temporary housing, up from £16.7 million in five years ago, the Edinburgh Evening News reports.
We are under phenomenal pressure to provide accommodation for people.”
Jane Meagher, the council’s Housing Convenor, says: “The broad situation is that we are under phenomenal pressure to provide accommodation for people.
“On the one hand we have a legal obligation to provide accommodation for people, and on the other hand we have a severe shortage of accommodation.”
She said that while some HMOs were not licensed all were subject to fire safety, gas and electrical checks. And some of the HMOs needed costly improvements such as new kitchens or building alterations.
