Edinburgh Plans to Relocate Some Homeless Amid Licensing Crackdown on Temporary Accommodation
Edinburgh council acts. Covid-19 forces hotels and B&Bs to become homes. These rooms lose the proper HMO license. About 650 people live in rooms that lack a license. The council sets a deadline before November ends to change this.
Licensing Requirement Spurs Change
During the pandemic, hotels and B&Bs fall into the role of homes. Many rooms do not hold an HMO license. The council inspects each room. The council tells landlords to get a proper license. Some 30 providers do not act. The unpaid money flows to rooms without a license. This break of rules sparks action. In early December, payments stop. About 10% of homeless persons might need a move. Most stay in the Edinburgh area. Some are moved to a location within 50 miles.
Efforts to Increase Licensed Housing Supply
The council halts new social housing applications. The council stops repairs that are not urgent. The council works to free more council homes. More than 170 empty homes get fixed and used for support. More homes may come when landlords win the HMO license. A project runs in secret. Its details hide for now.
Context and Outlook
Room demand builds hard pressure. Past moves sent some homeless people outside the city for event space. The new licensing check secures safe and legal homes. The council gives rides for long moves. The council plans quick returns to Edinburgh. Short moves keep harm low.
Summary
Investors and landlords in temporary or shared housing must know strict licensing rules. City staff check HMO law to keep residents safe and maintain standards. Property workers see service stops and legal risks if they break rules. The lack of fully licensed rooms makes support hard. Safe and legal homes stand as the true need in this time.
