merton council landlord licence
Fines for flouting the rules vary as well. If you are on a low income or receiving state benefits you might qualify for housing benefit to help with the rent. Why Rent Repayment Orders can pose a significant financial risk for private landlords, Important changes to section 21 notice of seeking possession procedure after 1 October 2018, Court decides that property licensing fees must be charged in two stages and the names of occupants cannot be demanded on a licence renewal application, Conviction for managing an unlicensed HMO quashed on appeal: an application must be decided before instigating a prosecution, Environmental Health and Housing: issues in public health, Selective licensing and licence conditions - the Court of Appeal gives a narrow interpretation to local authority powers, Khan and Reid: the Upper Tribunal considers the length of landlords’ property licences, The absolute tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire, The court of appeal gives guidance on the use of housing improvement notices, The importance of client money protection for landlords and tenants. We certainly can. As the leading experts in property licensing, we also offer a range of services ourselves. Whilst we don’t have any figures for the NLA or RLA schemes, we have got information about the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme that is supported by all the London Boroughs. Whether you a looking for a letting agent, want a property inventory for a new tenancy or fire risk assessment, we have got it covered - and far more besides! It is important to remember that submitting a licence application is only the start of the licence approval process. To find out more about becoming accredited, you can visit the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme website here. Does the Covid-19 lockdown mean I can delay starting my appeal or application to the Tribunal? "It's clear that this just isn't a priority for this Council. We are experts in housing regulation and have produced this free guide to help you understand the council's property licensing schemes. High Court confirm strict liability for operators of unlicensed HMOs. You may also be asked to provide references, which will mean giving bank details or a letter from your employer confirming your income, and often a character reference that could be given by a former landlord or if you are taking on a tenancy for the first time, a parent or guardian. The Council; My Richmond; My account; Housing; Information for landlords . New suppliers are regularly being added and we would encourage you to take a look. All landlords, letting agents and property managing agents who let houses in multiple occupation may need to apply for an HMO licence. A lot of private landlords and letting agencies will require a rent deposit, which will often be at least one month’s rent. HMO LICENCE FEES (Draft – May 2019) Current Licence Fee The full fee must accompany application for an HMO Licence. Environmental Health Housing Team Please note that gas safety certificates (where applicable) must be provided to the council on an annual basis for all licensed HMOs. Merton Council Some areas have less accommodation available so this may limit your choice. Under the Housing Act 2004, local authorities currently have powers to introduce selective licensing of privately rented homes to address problems in … Can you transfer a mandatory HMO, additional or selective licence to a new owner? While this will be good news for some landlords, it does make the licensing scheme far more complicated. Property Redress in London: how does your Borough shape up? ... A landlord forum exists, and Merton Council has considered setting up a tenants’ forum. To apply for a licence, set up an account on the property licensing portal. They were updated in September 2018 and can be downloaded from the council’s website. This means that you do not need planning permission for a change of use from a single-family property (use class C3) to a small HMO shared by three to six unrelated residents (use class C4), although the situation could change in the future. A landlord, who had failed to obtain an HMO licence for a house in Mitcham was ordered to pay nearly £4,000 at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court in Battersea on Tuesday 6 August. Additional licence. You will also need planning permission if you a splitting up a property into smaller self-contained units of accommodation. The council estimate the running costs for the two licensing schemes will be £21.07 million, with full costs to be recovered from licence application fees paid by local landlords. You do not need a licence if you rent your property to a single family as Merton Council do not operate a selective licensing scheme. You can find further information about Article 4 Directions on the council's website. The size and type of accommodation you would like; The cost of the accommodation each week or month; How long the accommodation is available for; Is the accommodation furnished or unfurnished. Failed to prosecute any rogue landlords for providing unsafe accommodation in the last few years (see article in the Wimbledon Guardian) 3. Could you help to improve the health of children and communities in Africa? If you don't, you could face a financial penalty notice of up to £30,000 or an unlimited fine from the court. Merton Council charges a standard HMO licence fee of £220 per unit of accommodation (was £200 in 2018/19), followed by £200 (was £180 in 2018/19) for each additional unit over five. If you think Merton Council should go further than merely thinking about it, why not email to ask for a renters’ group? Disturbing Changes to The Property Ombudsman Letting Code, Streamlining the licence application process can save time and reduce costs. Havering Council has introduced a standard application fee of £900 per property for all additional and selective licences. Under the Housing Act 2004 certain larger HMO's require a mandatory licence from the local authority. You risk being prosecuted by the council and if found guilty you could get a criminal record, be fined an unlimited amount and ordered to pay court costs and a victim surcharge. In March 2015, Merton Council told us they had no plans to implement additional or selective licensing although this could change in the future. On 20 July 2020, the council submitted an application to government, seeking permission to implement a replacement selective licensing scheme with a proposed start date of 1 February 2021. A landlord, who had failed to obtain an HMO licence for a house in Mitcham was ordered to pay nearly £4,000 at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court in Battersea on Tuesday 6 August. This is the third prosecution of a rogue landlord by Merton Council for breaches of the Housing Act 2004, in the last three months. Details of councillors, wards, local news and press releases, job vacancies and other information. Merton Council Overview and Scrutiny Commission Date: 11 September 2019 Time: 7.15 pm Venue: Committee rooms C, D & E - Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden SM4 5DX AGENDA Page Number 1 Apologies for absence 2 Declarations of pecuniary interest 3 Minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2019 1 - 6 4 Minutes of the meeting held on 14 August 2019 7 - 14 5 Crime and policing in Merton 15 - … If you find that you need a licence for your rented property our support doesn’t end there. To help set the scene, the London Borough of Merton is in South West London covering an area of 15 square miles. This is the second prosecution of a rogue landlord by Merton Council in the last three months. The Private Rented Service have developed a landlord tool kit which includes guidance on writing your management statement and document … Landlords who self-manage their properties in Wales must apply for a licence. Should criminal record checks be extended to landlords and letting agents? Local Housing Allowance. Merton Council’s Housing Enforcement Officers found more than five unrelated housemates living in the terraced house, despite the fact that Ahmed had not applied for an HMO licence. This is the second prosecution of a rogue landlord by Merton Council in the last three months. Landlord accreditation and training sessions; Landlord Forums; Contact us. A retired GP, who failed to obtain an HMO licence for a house in Colliers Wood, despite having up to nine tenants, was ordered to pay £4,613 at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court on Friday 25 October. London SM4 5DX, Email: ehhousing@merton.gov.uk How your council helps private renters: enforcing the law . Renewal fees are charged at half the standard rate. Haven't even looked at the idea of a licensing scheme for landlords. The landlord may or may not live in the house. It is not an exempt property such as a student hall of residence, or owned or managed by the council, a social landlord or the NHS Operating a licensable HMO without a licence is an offence which can be dealt with by a financial penalty or a conviction in court. These new minimum sizes apply throughout England to HMOs licensed under a mandatory HMO or additional licensing scheme. Labour pledged to complete the building of a new leisure centre, bring AFC Wimbledon 's home grounds within Merton, consider the introduction of a landlord licensing scheme, establish targets for affordable housing and introduce 20 mph zones. ENDS . And following a successful prosecution, you would probably fail a fit and proper person assessment, making it very difficult for you to obtain a property licence in the future. If you need help understanding the property licensing rules in Merton you have come to the right place! We are experts in housing regulation and have produced this free guide to help you understand the council's property licensing schemes. Merton Council won its court case against a local landlord last week after Wimbledon Magistrates Court found Mr Abbas guilty of letting a house for multiple occupation without a licence.Mr Abbas was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,045 after he failed to licence 49 Hassocks Road, Streatham, in contravention of the Housing… It is bordered by the boroughs of Kingston to the west, Sutton to the south, Croydon and Lambeth to the east and Wandsworth to the north. An end to “no fault” eviction? Apply for an additional licence . Are there any standards I need to comply with? We would strongly encourage you to contact the Council’s Planning Department or seek independent legal advice before you start a new HMO development. HMOs occupied and shared by between three and six people fall into planning use class C4 whereas single-family properties fall into planning use class C3. Could a change in Prime Minister spark a change in policy for the PRS? You need to know that you are able to meet the rent payments on the property. There are landlord accreditation schemes operated by the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme, the National Landlords Association (NLA) and the Residential Landlords Association (RLA). You should get advice about anything that you are unclear about. The council are offering a small discount of £35 per property for accredited landlords. Landlord accreditation scheme. This often gives you more choice over the type of accommodation available and the area in which you live. Landlords without a licence may be prosecuted and may no longer be able to operate their business. Website: www.merton.gov.uk. A local council says it has now successfully prosecuted a landlord for flouting the law that protects the health and safety of private tenants - and it came after a tip off. The average cost of a landlord licence comes to around £500 for five years. Whilst the property is unlicensed, you can’t use a Notice of Seeking Possession under Section 21 Housing Act 1988 to evict your tenants. There are lots of different types of accommodation to rent privately and they will vary greatly in quality, size, price and the services available depending on where and what type of accommodation you are looking for. You must have a licence for every home you rent out privately in Newham. New housing complaints resolution service will make redress scheme membership compulsory for all private landlords, NALS effective enforcement toolkit helps councils to tackle rogue letting agents, Supreme Court dismiss Nottingham City Council’s appeal: mode of occupation is relevant when assessing accommodation in a licensed HMO. In January 2016, they told us there were 259 accredited landlords in Merton, which was the 2nd lowest out of all London boroughs. Fair and objective - based on the individual circumstances of the case, taking all factors into account. … By January 2018, there were 271 accredited landlords, by January 2019 there were 377 accredited landlords and by January 2020 there were 403 accredited landlords which is now the third lowest number when compared to all the London boroughs. Unfortunately, there is no online application system – it’s a bit old fashioned! Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals; Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities; and. The fees were correct as of September 2020 but may be subject to change in the future. London Property Licensing awarded Best Landlord Service Provider 2019! By challenging them with difficult questions at Council meetings, we have uncovered that they: 1. Your starter for TEN: temporary exemptions to property licensing, New civil penalty regime marks a step change in housing regulation, Investigating carbon monoxide poisoning in private rented homes. Is the Council planning to introduce any new licensing schemes? For example, it includes: Prior to 1 October 2018, the mandatory HMO licensing scheme only applied to properties that were three or more storeys in height, but that restriction has now been lifted. The council have a fully integrated online application system. Whilst we do handle some applications, we have limited capacity and specialise in more complex cases where we provide our clients with expert advice and assistance. Landlord responsibilities. Alternatively, you can book an appointment to view the register at their office. Merton Council’s Housing Enforcement Officers found more than five unrelated housemates living in the terraced house, despite the fact that Ahmed had not applied for an HMO licence. Merton Council won its court case against a local landlord last week after Wimbledon Magistrates Court found Mr Abbas guilty of letting a house for multiple occupation without a licence. Council and local information. Private rented property licensing Applying for a licence. Properties converted into a mixture of self-contained and non self-contained accommodation. The Directory concentrates on businesses that operate in the London area. Can you help me find the goods and services I need? London Property Licensing understands the council has since been in discussion … Please note that although this licence is sometimes known as a 'landlord licence', this is to licence the property, not the landlord. Before entering into any agreement for a property, it is always advisable to check if the rent falls within the Empty properties. There's so much more they could do. No additional or selective licensing in Merton but the mandatory HMO licensing scheme applies borough wide. For small HMOs, the rules are a bit more complicated. Is the hiring out of property on Airbnb a breach of the lease? If you need assistance, please drop us a line and see if we can help! Landlords must make sure that they are aware of licensing, New Regulations on heating provision in HMOs, London Property Licensing: the first six months. Helped landlord negotiate with the council whilst improving the internal layout. This suggests that about 85% of licensable HMOs are being operated with no licence application submitted, which is a criminal offence! The landlord may or may not live in the house. … H… The government have decided to exclude purpose built self-contained flats within a block comprising three or more self-contained flats from the mandatory HMO licensing scheme. London Property Licensing finalists at the FSB London Business Awards! Under the Housing Act 2004 certain larger HMO's require a mandatory licence from the local authority. From handling the licence application process to advice on new HMO developments, we can help to ensure your property business remains compliant. The fee to cover the administration costs of the licence procedure as well as the cost for managing and authorising the licence. reveals 70 councils now operate additional or selective licensing schemes, Mandatory HMO licensing scheme to be extended on 1 October 2018, London's licensing lottery could drive landlords from PRS, says NALS, Government to expand the mandatory HMO licensing scheme throughout England in 2018, Mayor launches rogue landlord and agent checker for London, Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: interim report published, CIEH call on government to update the housing health and safety rating system, One in three London renters do not have a life-saving carbon monoxide alarm in their home, New inquiry to examine private rented sector enforcement and property licensing schemes, London Trading Standards organise day of action to target rogue letting agents. Whilst Merton Council do not operate an additional licensing scheme, some HMOs do need a licence under the mandatory HMO licensing scheme that applies throughout England. By challenging them with difficult questions at Council meetings, we have uncovered that they: 1. Will my mortgage lender find out if I apply for a property licence? 2. All schemes provide a free dispute resolution service. You will need to submit various supporting documents with your application, so make sure you have got all your paperwork ready. Lambeth HMO Licensing Consultation - 18 December 2020 to 12 March 2021, Southwark Additional & Selective Licensing Consultation - 15 February to 28 June 2021, Southwark Property Licensing Consultation Landlord Forum - 18 March 2021, Southwark Property Licensing Consultation Landlord Forum - 11 May 2021, No face to face meetings or events are being promoted during the COVID19 pandemic, ‘Paper determination’ process is not a fair way to determine criminal guilt says Upper Tribunal, High Court rules on possession notices and deposit certificates given by company landlords. Can Selective Licence conditions require a landlord to attend a training course? Get a licence to rent out your property as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in England or Wales - local authority, private renting, landlords, houseshare Operating a licensable HMO without a licence is an offence which can be dealt with by a financial penalty or a conviction in court. What is the minimum size for a bedroom in a licensed HMO? Housing Solutions 3rd Floor Merton Civic Centre London Road Morden SM4 5DX. Unfortunately many people find that they are unable to obtain accommodation provided by housing associations, mainly due to the lack of vacancies and the high demand for social housing. Proportionate - reflecting the nature, scale and seriousness of any breach or non-compliance. The portal is linked to MySouthwark, so if you have a MySouthwark account you can use your log in details to access the property licensing portal. Find out about and apply for a property licence. A retired GP, who failed to obtain an HMO licence for a … Fouad Ahmad, from Streatham, pleaded guilty to failing to register a house in multiple occupancy at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court in Battersea, south London. You will need planning permission if you are changing your property from a single-family property to a house in multiple occupation (HMO) occupied by more than six people.