HMO Licensing
Landlords have until 7 July 2006 to apply for a licence under the new HMO licensing regime. Any landlord operating a HMO without applying for a licence will be liable for a fine of up to £20,000. Each property will need a separate licence which will is valid for 5 years.
Fire Safety Reform
The Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 changes all fire safety legislation for non-domestic premises. From the 10 October 2006 employers or owners of premises must agree with the fire authorities their systems to manage fire risks and emergencies. All businesses including self-employed and the voluntary sector are affected
Politicians critical of DCMS
LGS.uk submitted evidence to the ODPM over concerns about the Licensing Act. A fairly damming ODPM report published on the 17 March 2006 considered that “people involved in all areas of the re-licensing process were encountering difficulties. In our view the DCMS has failed to administer the transition period effectively”. This report catalogued a large number of problems with the transition and makes 31 conclusions and recommendations.