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Councils are to be given new powers to deal with private landlords renting out overcrowded and dangerous shared homes.
Under measures laid before parliament today, local authorities will be allowed to set new standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and fine rogue landlords up to £30,000 if they fail to comply.
Town halls will be able to set minimum bedroom size standards and impose limits on how many people can live in each bedroom of a licensed HMO.
Landlords will also need to provide adequate waste storage facilities in line with council rules.
The new measures will come into force from October and will apply to all landlords seeking new HMO licenses.
Landlords of existing HMOs will have up to 18 months to bring their properties in line with the standards when reapplying for expired licences.
Introducing the legislation, junior housing minister Heather Wheeler said: “Everyone deserves a decent and safe place to live. But some tenants are being exploited by a minority of unscrupulous landlords who profit from renting out cramped and sometimes squalid or dangerous properties.
“Today’s measures will mean landlords must provide adequate space for their tenants or face a hefty fine. It is part of a raft of new powers for councils to crack down on rogue landlords and comprehensive action we are taking to improve conditions for private tenants.”
New legislation was introduced last month requiring landlords of one and two-storey HMOs to get a licence from their council, in addition to existing rules for taller buildings.
Banning orders for the worst-offending rogue landlords – which were introduced as part of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 – come into force next month, as well as a new rogue landlord and letting agent database.