The Liberal Democrats running BathNES Council have launched a public consultation regarding additional licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Bath.
The Council is considering extending its current licensing scheme to require all shared HMOs to be licensed around the Wards of Oldfield, Westmoreland and Widcombe as well as small parts of adjoining wards including Bathwick, Twerton, Lyncombe and Southdown. The roads affected in Bathwick would be Lime Grove, Lime Grove Gardens, Pulteney Road and Horseshoe Walk.
Additional licensing would allow the Council to ensure that HMOs meet minimum standards to protect the occupants in terms of health, safety and welfare. It would also help improve management of these properties which is beneficial not only for the occupants of HMOs but also for the wider community and, provide consistent standards for landlords. This is in addition to, and separate from, the related issue of restricting planning permission for shared housing.
The consultation seeks your views on whether additional licensing should proceed and if so, what should be included and how it could work. The consultation will run until the 30th November 2012 and your views and comments are welcomed.