Posted 16.12.16
Department for Communities and Local Government: Article link
Plans for new banning orders to crack down on rogue landlords and property agents and stop them operating have been set out by Government (13.12.16).
The banning orders would be put in place when rogue landlords commit serious offences against tenants. This could include failing to carry out work required by the council to prevent a health and safety risk to tenants, threatening tenants with violence, or illegally evicting them.
If a landlord or property agent is subject to a banning order they could be prevented from letting or managing a property indefinitely. Their name would also be included in a national database of rogue landlords and property agents.
The Government is seeking views on which offences committed by rogue landlords or property agents should constitute a 'banning order' offence.
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Posted 05.12.16
Greenwich Council: Article link
Local authorities are already legally obliged to license HMOs which are three storeys or more with five or more residents, including HMOs divided into two or more households.
Greenwich Council are inviting comments on new proposals that would see licensing for all HMOs in the Borough, with the aim of driving up standards and improving both the quality and management of such accommodation.
The consultation runs until Friday 24 February 2017 and views can be submitted online.