Hounslow introduces landlord licensing laws

News Category: Legal

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Hounslow has become the first London borough to introduce new laws to licence and regulate the activities of private landlords.

Commencing this week, landlords with properties over two storeys high and with more than four occupants will be legally obliged to pass fit-and-proper-person tests before they can be licensed to let a house of multiple occupation (HMO).

The council explained that the regulations have been introduced in order to ensure landlords are upholding decent accommodation standards, as well as to aid the prosecution of those found to be falling short.

Jon Hardy, lead member for housing at the council, said the body would provide guidance to landlords on "how they can comply with this legislation and how they might bring their properties up to a decent standard."

He added: "We will come down hard on those that don't."

The government's plans for a national landlord licensing system have been the subject of much debate in recent weeks, with the British Property Federation telling the Local Government Chronicle last month that it felt the scheme would fail without greater support from local councils.

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