Landlords in Telford warned to check they are following the rules – or face the consequences

Telford & Wrekin Council have released the warning to those still not following the new rules, saying that investigation teams will start taking action from January.

On October 1 new laws surrounding HMO licencing came into action, meaning that any property with five or more people living as two or more households now requires a licence.

Other rule changes brought in by central government also mean new minimum room sizes apply to properties. Landlords who renew their licenses will have to adhere to new enhanced conditions.

Councillor Richard Overton, the council's cabinet member for housing and enforcement, said: “We have given landlords a little extra time to help them get their heads around the new law, complete a DBS check and submit their applications.

“We are giving them until the end of the year. In January, our Rogue Landlord Taskforce will start to investigate and, where they find a property that should have been licensed but wasn’t, action will be taken against the landlord.

“Anyone found to be operating and/or managing a HMO can be prosecuted or issued with a fixed penalty notice of up to £30,000.

“This is a final call to landlords to abide by this new law.”