Gravesham Council Enforces Fines for Unlicensed HMOs
Gravesham Borough Council, acting in Gravesend, imposed fines on two residences operating as HMOs without proper licensing. The council, linking a penalty of £10,000 to a landlord on Granville Road and connecting a penalty of £17,500 to a managing agent on Parrock Street, aggregated fines to £27,500.
The enforcement, binding regulation to statute and practice, follows a registration amnesty from last year—which supported landlord compliance—and signals that the council will persist in probing for unlicensed HMOs. In UK law, a residence, if housing five or more individuals, mandates licensing as an HMO, with licenses lasting for five years; non-compliance incurs financial sanctions, binding landlords and tenants alike to statutory measures.
Summary
Gravesham Council’s actions, linking penalties to unlicensed HMOs, testify to ongoing statutory regulation in the private rental sector. The council, maintaining vigilance on potential deviations from legal licensing, signals a continued quest for compliance with housing regulations.
