FROM October 1 landlords across the borough will be subject to new licensing rules under the Housing Act 2004.

Any landlords with shared houses or properties of multiple occupation (HMO) that are occupied by five or more people living as more than one household, will be required to be licensed.

The borough council are issuing a warning for landlords to ensure they have applied for the licence prior to the October implementation date.

The HMO licence is usually issued for a period of up to five years and the fee is £100 per person living in the property.

Currently the HMO licensing applies to HMOs’ which are three or more storeys in height and occupied by five or more people living as more than one household, sharing at least one basic amenity.

From October the mandatory licensing will be required by HMO’s with at least five people comprising of more than one household, regardless of the number of storeys.

Cllr Craig Warhurst, whose portfolio covers housing, said: “Redditch Borough Council will always support landlords to provide decent and safe accommodation which comply with regulations.

"However, landlords who fail to licence their properties should be aware that the council enforcement team will not hesitate to take legal action against them. Landlords who fail to apply for an HMO licence could be prosecuted in a Magistrate’s Court with unlimited fines.”

Landlords in Redditch can download the HMO licensing application form by visiting www.redditchbc.gov.uk/hmo.