Tenants were given a rude awakening this week when council officials visited a selection of terrace homes in Slough amid concerns that landlords were renting them out without the required licence.
Enforcement officers from Slough Borough Council in Berkshire knocked on the doors of ten properties owned by two landlords on Alexandra Road, Chalvey, at 5am to examine the living conditions.
The landlords were obliged to obtain licences under both houses in multiple occupation (HMO) and selective licencing as Chalvey is a selective area.
All the properties were inspected by housing enforcement officers and the tenants interviewed.
Of the ten properties, the majority were found to have problems with gas or electric supplies, two properties were found to be undeclared HMOs, another had an issue with design of a kitchen in an enclosed space and another has been deemed unsafe to live in.
EYE queried why the tenants rather than the landlords were targeted so early.
A spokesman said: “Housing enforcement visited the homes at 5am on Wednesday, January 22, because our concerns are for the residents and the conditions they are living in.
“Housing enforcement has to look at the homes and how many people are in them when there is a likelihood of being in the property.
“In addition, housing enforcement needs evidence about the conditions of the homes, gas and electrical issues for example, for possible prosecutions.
“There are two landlords who both own all the properties and they do not live in Alexandra Road.
“Concerns were raised because they had not applied for a licence.”
One has to wonder if the council approached the landlords about obtaining licences before raiding the properties.
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Every day this country gets nearer to becoming a police state.
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If these properties were seriously flouting the law, crammed – over-crowded and flagrantly and knowingly breaching a number of Housing Regulations – then this action by the Council is to be welcomed by the vast, vast majority of good Landlords who are playing ‘by the rules’
Wouldn’t the majority of law-abiding Landlords agree ?
The definition of a good and balanced Local Authority, in my view, is that they are proportionate with cases, and that at the lower, – accidental and unwitting end of the spectrum, they use discretion.
Also, what is telling is their use and level of Civil Penalties set.
For example, are they trying to maximise the penalty just because the funds are going to fund their own activities ( which as a principle and without abuse ) I don’t object.
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If landlords know that enforcement will be visiting they will “re-house” tenants in other properties to evade HMO legislation. Enforcement need to visit at a time when the true number of tenants is present in order to enforce anything.
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