Another council imposes higher Improvement Notice fees

The council of Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) has announced that landlords who do not maintain their rented properties to the required standards will have to pay more fees.

This is part of the council’s Housing Services Charging Policy, which was updated last month to reflect the costs of providing various housing services.

One of the fees that has been increased is the Improvement Notice fee which is issued by the council’s Housing Services team when they find health and safety hazards in rented houses or flats.

These hazards could include faulty or missing fire safety measures, poor heating and insulation, or excessive damp and mould.

The fee for this service has gone up from £250 to £400.

The move follows that of Brighton and Hove council recently which increased its fee to £500.

‘Majority of landlords run their properties responsibly’

Councillor Matt McCabe, the cabinet member for built environment and sustainable development, said: “The majority of landlords run their properties responsibly, but the standard of rented homes across B&NES is inconsistent.

“Our Housing Services Team work hard to ensure that landlords act responsibly, and renters have a safe and secure home.”

He added: “We follow government guidance on setting the fees at a level that ensures the council recovers reasonable costs including the cost of taking enforcement action if necessary and for any staff time and expenses incurred.”

Increased the fee for a House in Multiple Occupation

The council has also increased the fee for a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence, which is required for properties that are occupied by three or more people who are not from the same household.

The licence cost has risen from £795 to £995.

Also, the council has increased some of the fees that are charged to Registered Providers, such as housing associations, for the marketing and delivery of affordable homes.

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