By Lucy Caulkett-
Southwark Council has approved a borough-wide licensing scheme which could see all landlords in the borough pay high licencing fees to crack down on rogue landlords who provide substandard accommodation.
Under the scheme, landlords would pay up to £1,310 plus £60 per room above five for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
The council plan to impose fees for mandatory licensing that are split into two payments, the first £580 plus £30 for each room above five persons to process the application. A further £730 in addition to £30 per room above five willlater be implemented to cover “enforcement of the licence”, the Eye Of Media.Com has heard.
All HMOs not subject to mandatory licensing would also require a licence. Up until now, current landlords only need a licence if the property is within small designated areas in the borough. Last week, Southwark council approved lower rate rents at 50% for key workers, saving them an average of £8,300 per year compared to the private market, according to the report.
Councillor Victoria Mills, cabinet member for finance, performance, and Brexit, said: “Southwark council believes that every resident should have a warm, dry and safe place to call home and is firmly committed to driving up standards in the private rented sector which now makes up a third of the housing in our borough.
“To underline our commitment that everyone should have a good quality home no matter who their landlord is, we are seeking to renew and expand our existing housing licensing schemes.” Southwark is proposing to renew and update its licensing schemes, which comes to an end on December 31 of this year, so that all landlords in the borough will have to pay a licence fee.
Exemptions would include properties converted into flats, those let by the council, holiday lets, those with business tenancies, night shelters, and temporary accommodation for people suffering a mental health disorder or recovering from drug and alcohol abuse.
“We know that there are many poor landlords in Southwark, but we also know that there are good ones and we know that the private rented sector plays an important role in meeting the housing needs of our residents.”
Only last week, Southwark Council provided a grant of £15m to help businesses in crisis during the pandemic. Those in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors with a rateable value of under £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000 per property, and businesses with a rateable value of between £15,001 and £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000 per property.