As we all know, there are good and bad landlords operating in every city and town, but whilst most landlords manage their businesses in a responsible manner, there continues to be a small minority of rogue landlords who flout the rules and subject their tenants to harassment, illegal evictions and dangerous living environments—all in the name of profit. Sadly, with buy to let becoming an increasingly profitable business venture for those wishing to take advantage of the current demand for rental housing, many landlords are jumping on the bandwagon and taking short cuts in their attempt to make as much money as possible.
Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are a popular way of maximising profit margins in university towns and cities and some landlords try to cram as many students as possible into their HMO properties. In a bid to regulate this type of property, HMOs are now subject to licensing regulations, but despite the strict rules currently in place, there are still plenty of rogue landlords letting rooms and bedsits in unlicensed shared properties.
According to a recent press report, York City Council received lots of complaints from disgruntled tenants last year, many of whom live in unlicensed HMOs in the city. Other complaints arose as a result of poor and unsafe living conditions, although in some cases problems were down to ignorance of current Housing Law and the council is working with these individuals to help them improve their accommodation. However, despite the complaints, the council is keen to point out that the majority of private tenants are happy with their landlords, which is good news!
