A big council in the East Midlands has revealed plans to extend and widen its additional licencing scheme for HMOs.

West Northamptonshire Council has operated the scheme in Northampton since 2020 covering smaller HMOs of three or more residents and is in addition to its mandatory scheme.

This requires all larger HMOs accommodating more than five unrelated people using shared facilities.

The existing additional licencing scheme covers parts of Northampton’s city centre and originally cost landlords £1,269 for each HMO but will run out in January next year.

Following a ten-week consultation a new and larger scheme will then run from February 2025 for a further five years. The council has produced maps showing clusters of problems which it says is down to poorly-manage smaller HMOs as well as the new areas covered (main image).

The problems identified include reports of fly-tipping, noise and anti-social behaviour plus ‘disrepair complaints’ although any direct links between these problems and HMOs are not spelled out.

Also, the council has not said how much licences for the new scheme will cost, but a council report aired prior to the consultation being approved suggested it is likely to go up, given two extra full time officers will be needed to run the bigger scheme at a cost of £100,00.

Concern

Councillor Adam Brown (pictured), the council’s deputy leader, says: West Northamptonshire Council recognises that similarly to many other areas across the country, HMOs and how they operate are a cause for concern for many residents.

“HMOs form part of the overall housing supply across West Northants and are particularly beneficial for people on low incomes, key workers and students – but they must be licensed and managed properly.”

Rosie Herring (pictured), Cabinet member for housing, says she wants all residents to have access to safe and well-maintained homes, adding that: “This consultation seeks to address issues related to the management and maintenance of HMOs.

“These properties play a crucial role in providing affordable housing, but they also present unique challenges in terms of safety, quality, and management.

“We encourage landlords, tenants, and all community members to participate and share their views.

“Your feedback is essential in helping us shape a licensing scheme that meets the needs of our community and promotes high standards in housing.”

Read the consultation documents here.