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Housing

HMO Loans

Bedford Borough Council is offering discretionary interest free loans of up to £15,000 to assist HMO Landlords with essential repairs in order to bring a property up to officially recognised standards.

In April 2006 it became a legal requirement for landlords of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s) that are 3 or more storeys high with 5 or more tenants to apply for and be granted a licence to operate. Failure to do so is an offence with fines attached. The licence holder must be a ‘fit and proper person’ and must demonstrate good management of their property or properties and must pay a licence fee. Licenses run for up to 5 years.

Landlords of HMO’s that do not fall into this licensable category are still required by law to ensure that their properties meet the specified property standards particularly in relation to fire safety standards and amenities provision. Any harm caused to a tenant through the property standards not being maintained could also result in the Landlord committing an offence.

With the ever increasing need for affordable rooms to let to people in housing need it is vital that a decent supply of this type of accommodation is maintained. Some private landlords do not have the resources to keep their properties in good repair therefore Bedford Borough Council has an important role to provide and facilitate assistance in these cases.

Assistance may also be available to landlords or empty property owners who are considering letting a property this way to ensure you get it right from the start.

Financial Assistance in the form of grants or loans up to £20,000 may also be available for empty home owners if a property has been empty for more than 12 months.

Information about the HMO property standards and housing grants and loans can be downloaded from our website www.bedford.gov.ukclick on ‘Housing’.

For more information about HMO loans please download the leaflet below.

HMO Loans Leaflet - DOWNLOAD

For more information regarding HMO licensing and property standards call the Environmental Health Unit on 01234 221763

For free advice about finding tenants, management of HMO tenancies and our Rent Deposit Scheme please call the Housing Options team on 01234 227466

If you own a long term empty property and would like free advice about bringing it back into use, please call the Empty Homes Hotline on 01234 221936

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