Houses in Multiple Occupation Additional Licensing Consultation

Are you a landlord of a shared house or do you live in one?

If so, have your say on our plans for a new licensing scheme to help drive up standards in the private sector, and reduce anti-social behaviour.

We want to hear your views on our plans to extend a licensing scheme for shared houses in Thurrock. About 2,000 Thurrock residents live in what are known as houses in multiple occupation (HMO) which means homes with more than 3 people living there who are not all from the same family.

The main benefits are:

• additional licensing enables the council to gather information about poor standards in local homes, and demand improvements
• it helps the council to ensure that landlords have the right skills and attributes to carry out their role
• it makes it compulsory for landlords to let the council know about houses of multiple occupancy so that we can monitor standards
• it allows us to identify and work directly with landlords whose management and/or accommodation standards are inadequate, and ensure they are improved
• it funds the council to identify and enforce poor standards
• increasing tenant satisfaction results in reduced turnover and more stable tenancies as well as properties being more attractive to potential tenants
• The number of poor landlords will be reduced, allowing good law-abiding landlords to dominate the market.

Your views on the proposal are integral to the decision-making process. We wish to hear from all who are likely to be affected by the proposal, including but not limited to:

• private tenants
• private landlords
• managing agents
• member of the community
• businesses which operate in the borough

This consultation will run for 12 weeks from 23 August 2024 until 15 November 2024.

There will be two in-person drop in sessions at:

Thurrock Town Hall, New Road, Grays, RM17 6SL

Wednesday, 18 September 2024 3pm to 5pm

Corringham Library, St Johns Way, Corringham, Stanford-le-Hope, SS17 7LJ

Tuesday 29 October 2024 5pm to 7pm

An on-line engagement event will also be run on Thursday, 26 September at 4pm to 6pm. If you would like to join this online event to share your views, please contact HMO@thurrock.gov.uk and an invite will be sent to you

For further information about the proposed new scheme, assistance with completing the survey or to request a paper copy of the consultation papers please contact HMO@thurrock.gov.uk

Once the consultation has closed the council will review all responses. A full consultation report, including the council's response to any alternatives suggested will be published on the council's website.