Shared houses and bedsits in a Lincolnshire town may need to be licensed under new proposals.
The policy has been put forward as a solution to tensions that councillors say have arisen from a growing population and Eastern European immigration.
And just how will it do that? Are the licenses going to be restricted?
The idea is one of 28 recommendations in a major report on social issues in the area.
I’d hate to see what the other 27 might be!
Portfolio holder for housing, property and community at Boston Borough Council, Mike Gilbert, said: “One of the problems in Boston is that around 95 per cent of people from Eastern Europe live in the private sector.”One thing that’s been recognised is that if we do have a licensing process it gives us a greater understanding about conditions and safeguards.
“Some of the criticisms of HMOs are parking and litter.
“We are not saying we can resolve those overnight but it’s the start of a process where we know who owns that house and who lives there and if there’s anyone not fully paying their council tax.”
Ah! The penny drops!
There are proposals for a HMO licensing system in my city. The local council claims that it will solve problems such as low-quality accommodation, but I don’t think they’ve raised the possibility of trying to get more council tax.
They are sensible enough to keep it on the down low, then?
OTOH there really are landlords who are a menace.
Exploiters & owners of really sub-standard accomodation.
Difficult
Yes, there are. And there are existing laws to deal with them.
PROVIDED they are enforced.
The residents of our street have been trying to get the locoal council to act against one such … and even when they do, he just ignores them, pays the fine & carries on regardless – I kid you not!