The Council want to improve protection for private tenants and landlords in Hammersmith & Fulham. A third of H&F residents rent their homes privately. The Council want to do more to protect them from bad landlords – and to protect good landlords from badly-behaving tenants.
The Council also wants to help good landlords by creating a level playing field and discouraging bad landlords from operating in H&F.
The Council have five proposals to make things better that they are consulting on:
- Introduce ‘additional licencing’
Any “house in multiple occupation” (HMO) would need to apply to the Council for a licence. This will ensure its properly managed and not overcrowded.
- Introduce ‘selective licencing’
Properties in parts of the borough with high levels of anti-social behaviour will need to apply to the Council for a licence. They’ll have to meet minimum tenancy and property standards. This will protect landlords, tenants and neighbouring residents.
- Introduce an H&F private landlords’ rental charter
The Councils proposes that landlords to sign up to the charter and commit to best practice in management, housing standards, charges, protecting tenants’ deposits and security of tenancies. Tenants will be attracted to H&F charter landlords because they’ll know they can have more confidence in them.
- Revise minimum standards for HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation)
To ensure that HMOs are safe and not overcrowded, the Council proposes to introduce new standards for management, safety, facilities and living space.
- Set up a social lettings agency
This new type of agency will help residents on low or modest incomes find a home in the private rented sector and will help landlords find suitable tenants. It will incentivise landlords to let to benefit claimants by offering residents support to sustain their tenancies.
Please give us your views. Visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/improvingprivaterenting for more information and to respond to the consultation.
We would be grateful if you could ask the landlords, tenants and residents you represent to contribute their views too.
PRIZE DRAW
As a thank you, you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win one of three prizes of Marks & Spencer’s gift vouchers worth up to £100.
