Illegal Houses of Multiple Occupation

Crimewave sweeping britain illegal Houses of Multiple Occupation

A newspaper article relating to HMO’s of which there are too many on the Arboretum.

There are recent concerns about the number of HMOs in the area. This article by The Guardian outlines the crimewave of illegal HMOs.
There is a concern that too many rented accommodations exist. This concern is with absolutely no reflection on the landlords or the people that live in HMOs. These can create potential rifts in the community. They can also disenfranchise the tenants.

To find registered HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) in Worcester, UK, contact the Worcester City Council’s Private Sector Housing Team at privatesectorhousing@worcester.gov.uk or 01905 722288, as they manage licensing and maintain registers, with mandatory licensing for larger HMOs and additional licensing covering many smaller ones in specific wards, extended until 2030. You can also find lists of properties and licensing requirements on the Worcester City Council website. 

How to Find Registered HMOs:

1. Contact the Council Directly: The Private Sector Housing Team at Worcester City Council is the best source for the official register.
   • Email: privatesectorhousing@worcester.gov.uk
   • Phone: 01905 722288
2. Check the Council Website: Look for “Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)” or “Private Sector Housing” on the Worcester City Council website for details on licensing schemes and links to registers. 

Key Points on Worcester’s HMO Licensing:

• Mandatory Licensing: Applies to HMOs with 5 or more unrelated people.
• Additional Licensing: Extended in Worcester until 2030, covering smaller HMOs (3+ people forming 2+ households) and converted flats in specific areas (Arboretum, Bedwardine, Cathedral, St Clements, St Johns, and city-wide from Sept 2023).
• Enforcement: The council actively enforces licensing and can issue penalties for non-compliance. 

What You Might Find:

• Official registers, often in PDF format (like the example for 1 Albert Road), detailing licensed properties, occupants, and expiry dates.
• Information on fees, application processes, and landlord responsibilities. 

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) – Worcester City Council

HMOs will be subject to licensing will need either a mandatory licence or an additional licence. (Read more here: landlord-advice/HMOs will be subject to,the 1st September 2023).

Worcester City Council Scheme to improve standards in rented housing extended to 2030

30 Jan 2025 — It is a national requirement for HMOs to be licensed if they have five or more occupants, forming two or more household.

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While HMOs and rented accommodation is often the only way (sadly) that people can find a home, there are a lot of investors that encourage investment simply as a money tree.
e.g. DEVETE financials (a London-based finance house) promote “money making” with little or no responsibility for maintenance or care for the community or tenants.

The landlords and property owners are listed (data from a Freedom of Information request in 2022), or from the City Council website, the MySociety website have loads of useful information on the climate/environment and “Tools for improving your community“, some of which analyses data that we are not usually aware of.

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It is possible (though not easy) to get a list of Landlords but it means a lot of data-scraping. e.g. RentUmo. So how do we raise concerns about the state of some of these properties or drop the landlord a polite note about it?

Openrent list properties to rent in Worcester and following one link to a small apartment in Barborne, we get to

1 bedroom property for £725 pcm – £167.31 pw
1 bedroom; 1 bathroom; 2 tenants max.

…”City location, just a few minutes walk from Worcester Foregate Street station.
PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS NO CAR PARKING AT THIS PROPERTY. “

To find private landlords in Worcestershire, start by using property websites like OpenRent, Rightmove, and Zoopla. Filter for “private landlord” listings. Check local classifieds like Gumtree. Look at the Worcester City Council site for resources. Consider specialized platforms like Renthero for direct landlord contacts. No single “list” exists, but there are many online sources.

Online Property Portals (Best for Direct Landlord Listings):

• OpenRent: Specializes in direct-from-landlord rentals, with specific sections for Worcester and Worcestershire.
• Renthero: Lists properties from private landlords in Worcester, allowing direct contact.
• Gumtree: Search for “private rent” in Worcestershire for various properties. 

Major Property Websites (Filter for Private Landlords):

• Rightmove & Zoopla: Search for rentals in Worcestershire and use filters (often under “Landlord” or “Let by”) to find direct listings, though they also list agents. 

Local Resources:

• Worcester City Council: Provides advice and links to local resources, including property pages in the local newspaper.
• Worcester News Property Page: Check the local paper on Thursdays for listings. 

Tips for Your Search:

Be Quick: Direct landlord rentals often get snapped up quickly, so check listings frequently. 

Use Specific Keywords: When searching these sites, use terms like “private landlord,” “direct from owner,” or filter for “no agency” if available.

Set Up Alerts: Create alerts on these sites for new properties matching your criteria.