Coventry councillors are set to approve a 12-week consultation into plans to renew the city-wide additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs.
The authority aims to improve housing management and living conditions for tenants and to promote crime-reducing measures. It believes that its previous scheme, introduced in 2020, helped to improve standards for both tenants and their neighbours.
Councillor David Welsh, cabinet member for housing and communities, says HMOs are part of the housing mix and if they are well managed and well looked after can be a real positive for renters.
“There are many good landlords in Coventry running private rented HMOs but there are also landlords who don’t maintain their properties to the standard we, and local people, would expect,” he adds.
“This is why we want to extend the city-wide additional licensing for a further five years from 2025 to 2030, so I hope people will take some time to have their say.”
Coventry has among the highest number of HMOs compared with other local authorities in England and Wales - about 6,800 or 26% in the private rented sector.
Last November, the council introduced an Article 4 Direction in the city to get tougher on HMO expansion. Areas where the policy is in place include Cheylesmore, Earlsdon, Foleshill, Lower Stoke, Radford, St Michaels, Sherbourne, Wainbody, Whoberley, Westwood and Upper Stoke.
Councillors will consider the additional licensing plans at a cabinet meeting next Wednesday (14th February) and if approved, a 12-week consultation would start on 26th February.
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