9:28 AM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago 33
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With the deadline approaching for its selective licensing scheme, a London council is threatening to take control of landlords’ property if they don’t apply in time.
Newham says its deadline to apply for a license is at the end of this month and landlords who don’t apply risk an unlimited fine for not having a mandatory license.
It adds they also face having control of their properties taken away.
The council says it will be stepping up its enforcement and inspection visits in September and will take action against any landlord with an unlicensed property.
Along with having control of their properties removed, landlords could also be facing a rent repayment order of up to 12 months’ rent to the ‘Council or their tenants’.
Carleene Lee-Phakoe, the council’s cabinet member for housing needs, homelessness and private rented sector, said: “Renters in Newham deserve to live in safe, well-managed and well-maintained homes, and that’s what our pioneering Selective Licensing scheme aims to ensure.
“I’m grateful to the majority of our landlords who have successfully applied for a license, and call on those who still need to apply to take action now.
“Our teams will be out and about in September to check for unlicensed properties, so I encourage anyone without a license to get their application in without delay.”
The last selective licensing scheme ended in February which saw 42,000 properties being licensed and 70% of these were subject to audits or visits.
The council found 2,620 licence breaches between 2018 and July this year and 387 fines of between £5,000 to £30,000 were handed out.
When Newham Council was approached by Property118 to explain the process of taking control of properties away from landlords it pointed us to the Shelter website.
That’s where there is an explanation of ‘Interim management orders’.
The site spells out:
‘Interim and Final Management Orders are to be used when the licensing regime fails. They allow the local authority to take over the management of a house in multiple occupation (HMO) where there is no fit and proper person available to manage it.
‘A local authority may make an Interim Management Order (IMO) to ensure that immediate steps are taken to protect the health, safety or welfare of occupiers and adjoining occupiers/owners and any other steps are taken to ensure the proper management of the house pending further action.’
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moneymanager
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Member Since February 2018 - Comments: 627
11:15 AM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago
Communists.
GlanACC
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Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 1484
11:35 AM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago
Well if you can’t be bothered to apply for a STATUTORY license, then yes, you are a rogue landlord and deserve what you get
The_Maluka
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Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2136 - Articles: 1
11:48 AM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago
Who decides if Newham Council is “fit and proper” to take over the managemnt and will the council pay itself the licence fee?
NewYorkie
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Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1607 - Articles: 3
11:54 AM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 21/08/2023 – 11:35
Most landlords are not ‘rogue’ because they don’t have a licence. There are numerous councils which don’t operate these money-grabbing scams, and landlords in their area are still decent, honest, and care for their tenants. This will simply accelerate the landlord exodus, increasing rents in the process.
Hamish McBloggs
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Member Since March 2016 - Comments: 254
12:16 PM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago
while the bad landlords with frightened tenants who should be targeted continue to operate under the radar …
Fergus Dodd
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Member Since July 2023 - Comments: 5
12:29 PM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago
I used to own a buy to let house in Newham.
My tenant illegally sublet the house.
Newham Council threatened to revoke my Landlord’s Licence, because house was not registered as a HMO.
I started eviction proceedings against tenant, but Newham Council advised tenant to remain in house until I evicted him.
This is NOT a misprint, the same Council who threatened to revoke my Landlord’s Licence for something which was NOT my fault, then advised tenant, who WAS responsible, to remain in house.
The tenant stayed in house, stopped paying rent and still sublet.
It took me 14 months and cost me over £27,000 to regain possession of my house.
I sold 2 buy to let properties I owned in Newham.
I know many people in Newham will rejoice at the suffering of a Landlord, but look at rents in Newham and tell me who is really suffering.
Tony Johnson
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Member Since June 2023 - Comments: 44
12:53 PM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago
And so it begins.
Tony Johnson
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Member Since June 2023 - Comments: 44
12:55 PM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Fergus Dodd at 21/08/2023 – 12:29
Most of the flats in Grenfell Tower were illegal sublets
The first level tenants have all long since fled with nobody going after them.
NewYorkie
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Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1607 - Articles: 3
12:57 PM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Fergus Dodd at 21/08/2023 – 12:29Had a similar problem in Sheffield, but it only cost me £20,000! Wild drink and drug-fuelled parties all day and night, and police and council did nothing… during lockdown! He was also downloading child porn using a neighbours Wi-Fi, which did bring the police in. In jail now, and I sold the bad memory.
Dave S
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Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 19
13:06 PM, 21st August 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Fergus Dodd at 21/08/2023 – 12:29
Unbelievable Fergus I’ve owned BTL properties for 30 years and I’ve gone through thick and thin over the years but nothing has been as bad as it is now I have 20 properties and started selling up last year not sure if I’m going to sell the lot or keep say 10 back and incorporate but when you read stories like yours I think it’s time we all threw the towel in to be honest