0:01 AM, 8th July 2025, About 6 months ago 2
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Salford City Council has imposed fines of £577,650 on 26 landlords for failing to uphold housing standards in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
The penalties stem from its additional HMO licensing scheme, introduced in July 2021, targeting smaller shared homes with three or four tenants.
Since its inception, the council has issued 1,262 licences and inspected 1,385 properties to ensure compliance with essential safety and welfare requirements.
A further 123 licences are under review.
The council’s lead member for housing and anti-poverty, Councillor Tracy Kelly, said: “We introduced the licensing scheme to improve conditions for tenants and improve management standards.
“So far it has been a success.”
She added: “Landlords who do not comply with conditions will receive a visit from our enforcement officers and where necessary we will hand out fines.
“But the hard work does not stop here – we will continue to target landlords who fail to meet their obligations.”
Meanwhile, Wigan Council’s cabinet has approved plans for a borough-wide Article Four direction to tighten control over small HMOs.
The decision, pending a five-day call-in period and a 21-day public consultation, could take effect in August.
Currently, small HMOs with fewer than six occupants do not require planning permission under national regulations.
However, the proposed rules would mandate planning approval for all HMOs, regardless of size, across the borough.
David Proctor, the council’s assistant director for planning and regeneration, said: “We do recognise that HMOs are an important part of the overall housing offer.
“There is a genuine need that exists in the borough, but we do think that it’s desirable to have that part of the housing market evolve in a controlled and managed way.”
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Member Since February 2018 - Comments: 627
10:38 AM, 8th July 2025, About 6 months ago
‘“There is a genuine need that exists in the borough, but we do think that it’s desirable to have that part of the housing market evolve in a controlled and managed way.”
The HMO housing is already in existence, why do I think that if the Council was a gynaecologist we would have a lot of still births?
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Member Since February 2018 - Comments: 627
10:42 AM, 8th July 2025, About 6 months ago
So Tracy, £22000per landlord not available for improvements, IF you operated your scheme with knowledgeable people would could make constructive inputs and operated it on a strict cost basis it might be a win all round, instead you are a highway robber.