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Council tries to tackle rogue landlords

by mikebell on 27 March, 2018

North Somerset Council is adopting a new approach to proactively tackle poor housing conditions in private rented homes in Weston-super-Mare town centre.

The new area-based approach will target the council’s enforcement action at rogue landlords and poor quality privately rented homes in the town centre, including Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

The council has conducted a comprehensive review of property standards and tenant complaints from across North Somerset and found a concentration of poor housing conditions in privately rented homes in the central area of Weston. The responses to a public consultation exercise also helped establish the new approach.

North Somerset Council will work closely with partner accreditation agencies under the established ‘Rent with Confidence’ scheme to undertake random inspections of privately rented homes. Where poor housing conditions are uncovered enforcement action will be taken against the landlord, which can include fixed penalty notices. Inspections of any other properties owned by the non-compliant landlord will automatically follow.

Alongside the more robust enforcement procedures, landlords and letting agents will receive a wide range of information and education on the required minimum property standards, including fire precautions, security measures, adequate heating and damp and mould prevention.

This initiative will operate alongside the extension of the mandatory HMO licensing scheme which comes into effect on 1 October 2018 and will see an estimated 300 properties requiring a licence across North Somerset.

   3 Comments

3 Responses

  1. Marlene johnson says:

    About time something is done.the flats in Swiss road (locking road end are in a deplorable condition.rubbish in garden piled high for months.I have complained to Richard nightingale on two occasions in the past weeks and had no reply.and had to phone the police because of drug dealing in my drive.this needs sorting out once and for all especially at a time when tube council wants higher council tax.

  2. Holly Law says:

    I’ve just looked at the executive decisions made in the past month or so, and the agenda of the last exec meeting and full council and can’t see where a record of this decision has been made?

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