NEW LICENSING PLANS FOR BRISTOL Proposals approved for new Additional and Selective Licensing in Bristol. Bristol City Council have just informed us, that they reported to the Council’s Cabinet, in the second week of December of last year (4 December 2021), asking for approval to bring into force new licensing schemes, in three wards across the city of Bristol. The new proposals were for Additional Licensing of Private Rented Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Bedminster, Brislington West and Horfield wards and a Selective licensing scheme of most other privately rented properties in Bedminster and Brislington West wards. Both of these proposals were approved by the Council’s Cabinet and the scheme will come into force on 6 April 2022. The scheme will be in operation for five years. You can find a copy of the official Public Notice on the Council’s website.
In a recent blog, we talked about HMO compliance and licensing, and you may remember that: The Housing Act 2014 states that a house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a property rented out by 3 or more people from 2 or more households, who share facilities such as a kitchen and/or a bathroom. If an HMO is tenanted by 5 people or more, it will require a mandatory licence but, in addition to mandatory licences, any council, at their own discretion, can apply additional licensing to an area of their choosing. If they do this then you will need an additional licence for a “small HMO” of 3-4 people from 2+ households.
HMOs that require an additional licence will need to follow the licence criteria as laid out on the council website, for the appropriate number of people. When a Council brings into force Selective Licensing, this means that you will need a Licence for most other privately rented properties in that area. It is a legal Most privately rented properties (including requirement for landlords to make a licence HMOs) in Bedminster and Brislington West application for each property that they let in and HMOs in Horfield, will require a licence the area that needs a licence. Failure to do so from 6 April 2022 and the Council have stated could result in enforcement action and that each property will be inspected at least prosecution. Landlords can also be ordered once during the lifetime of the scheme, to to pay back up to 12 months’ rent if they don’t ensure that they meet licensing standards. apply for a licence when they are required to do so.
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