A council has launched a series of targeted inspections and actions against rogue landlords and what it regards as unsafe HMOs.
Harlow council says the move is to ensure that all private tenants live in safe, decent homes that meet legal standards.
One councillor – Joel Charles, whose job title is ‘Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Public Protection’ – joined enforcement officers from the council to execute a warrant at a property which has been operating as an HMO.
He says: “All private sector landlords need to understand that it is unacceptable to operate an unlicensed house in multiple occupation.
“I recently joined council officers to execute a warrant at a property identified as a suspected unlicensed house in multiple occupation. The condition of the property was shocking, so enforcement action is now being taken against the landlord.
“Landlords who are found to run unsafe properties will be held to account and face severe consequences for their actions. The council is scaling up its approach to enforcement to help raise housing standards in Harlow. Those landlords who do the right thing will continue to have the council’s support, but there will be no hesitation to act if the housing standards required are not delivered.
“Through tougher inspections and decisive action, the council is working to improve the quality of private sector housing available in the district. This is all about building a safer and more resilient town.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today