A SCHEME to provide additional licensing for houses of multiple occupancy in Newport has been approved for a further five years.
In September 2024, the cabinet member for Housing and Planning at Newport City Council, Councillor Saeed Adan published his decision to approve the Additional Licensing Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation in Newport and extend it for a further five years.
According to a public notice put up on the council website, this extension of the scheme will help to “regulate and improve” property conditions for the health and safety of all residents.
The designation has been made in accordance with section 59 of the Housing Act 2004, which sees Newport City Council acting as a local housing authority under section 56 and applies to all houses of multiple occupancy within Newport.
The houses applicable to the delegation are those occupied by three or more people that form two or more separate households across the whole of Newport.
Every applicable HMO within Newport that is affected by this will be required to have a licence under section 61 of the Housing Act 2004, with any landlord, house manager or tenant or contract holder advised to seek advice directly from the council as to whether their property is impacted.
Anyone who has control or is managing a prescribed HMO must ensure they apply for a HMO licence from Newport Council, with failure to do so being an offence under section 72of the Act.
This offence is punishable by an unlimited fine on conviction, and anyone may also be asked to repay up to 12 month’s rent if the tenant, contract holder or council apply to the Residential Property Tribunal under sections 73 and 74 of the Act for a rent repayment order.
The decision was made on November 12, 2024, and will be expected to come into force on February 13, 2025, and will remain in place until at least February 12 2030. It may be done earlier if the council revokes the scheme under section 60 of the Housing Act 2004.
All landlords are advised to submit a fully completed HMO renewal application to demonstrate “due diligence” and confirm that the property is still being used as a HMO.
Following the start date of the designation, if the application is completed and council approved, a draft licence will be issued.
This relates to HMOs covered by the Additional licensing Scheme where the property is occupied by three oe more households.