Jul

Licensing latest: Council introduces HMO rules in four towns in one go

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Denbighshire County Council has voted through an Additional Licensing Scheme for Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in a move to improve safety for occupants and help curb anti-social behaviour.

The scheme, which will apply to the Welsh towns of Rhyl, Prestatyn (pictured), Denbigh and Llangollen, brings in new regulations to better control safety, minimum room sizes, and “reasonable procedures” regarding anti-social behaviour.

The seaside town of Rhyl – which has the highest number of HMOs of the four selected towns at approximately 840 – has had an Additional Licensing Scheme in operation for 10 years.

But Denbighshire’s councillors have seen fit to enforce tougher regulations for both Rhyl, Prestatyn, Denbigh and Llangollen over concerns about anti-social behaviour and poor standards of accommodation.

As well as agreeing to abide by the new, stricter rules, landlords will have to pay between £420- £1,370 per property for a five-year licence.

Denbighshire’s Built Environment and Public Protection Manager Gareth Roberts says these four towns were picked because of their high proportion of HMOs and levels of complaints related to anti-social behaviour.

The new measures – which will come into force in around three months’ time – are intended to improve both the lives of Denbighshire’s HMO tenants and their neighbouring residents.

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