New housing standards that cost landlords hundreds approved in Reading

This year, the Labour administration at Reading Borough Council has been exploring requiring landlords to possess a licence to operate.

Terms of these licences make it the responsibility of the landlords to maintain fire and smoke alarms, electricity safety ratings and ensure appliances are in working condition.

Currently, there are 1,400 licensed properties that must meet these requirements, with landlords possessing licences as part of a national mandatory scheme applied to homes of multiple occupation (HMOs) of five or more people. 

In coming years, strict rules controlling the conditions of flats will be introduced as a licensing scheme covering smaller homes has been approved.

The change will require landlords owning homes of three to four people (called small HMOs) to have a licence throughout the borough, which is estimated to apply to up to 2,000 properties.

The scheme will cost landlords hundreds of pounds, with the price of a licence for a small HMO being set at £1,250 for a standard application.

In coming years, the council will also introduce a selective licensing scheme for all rented accommodation in Battle, Park and Redlands, irrespective of the size of the property.

Implementation will begin in Battle ward, which covers most of Oxford Road and its side streets in West Reading.

The new licensing schemes were agreed upon at a housing, neighbourhoods and leisure committee meeting.

Matt Yeo lead councillor for housing (Labour, Caversham) said: “It’s hardly surprising that landlords would mainly object to the proposals, but there is some support from tenants and local residents.

READ MORE: Attitude survey shows how tenants and landlords feel about rental properties in Reading 

“Since becoming a councillor in 2022 and a lead cllr earlier this year, it’s become obvious to me, if it wasn’t before, that we have to make this effort to improve private rented housing quality in Reading.”

Cllr Will Cross (Labour, Redlands) added: “It’s something I’ve been campaigning on and pushing for several years and it’s a particular issue in Redlands ward.

“Local campaigner Dr Sunila Lobo and other residents were involved in campaigning for this, carrying out an informative survey highlighting some of the problems which Redlands residents experience due to the minority of landlords who do not manage their HMO properties correctly.”

Issues raised in that survey included poor management leading to overflowing bins, noise disturbance and hazards in properties.

READ MORE: Call for controls on flats plagued by bin collection issues 

Cllr Sarah Hacker (Independent, Battle) argued some landlords are shirking their duty to provide good living conditions for tenants.

She said: “As a landlord, you are providing a home, somewhere for people to live, bring up their children to have a family life.

“For far too many years the profit from it has been front and foremost in peoples’ minds, it’s becoming more obvious the care for the property and the people inside is a secondary matter.”

Cllr Hacker called for landlords to “up their game” or consider alternative investment opportunities.

READ MORE: Controls set to be put on buy-to-let landlords in Reading 

The additional HMO licensing scheme for HMOs of three or more people is set to be introduced next year.

Meanwhile, the selective licensing scheme will take years to implement.

The scheme will be introduced in Battle ward in 2027, Park ward in 2029, and Redlands ward in 2031.

Commenting on the drawn-out implementation process, cllr Josh Williams (Green, Park) said: “It’s going to seem to residents relatively slow, that there might be a change after 2030, that doesn’t feel like that it’s got the impetus that we’ve heard from councillors.” 

Ultimately, the additional HMO licensing and selective licensing policy was approved at the council’s housing, neighbourhoods and leisure committee on Wednesday, November 13.

Reading Chronicle | Town Centre