CLAMP DOWN: Council launches mob-handed night time raids on dogy HMOs

Grimsby tenants got a surprise when council and fire officers, the police and the Home Office turned up mob-handed at two HMOs.

The multi-agency operation involved North East Lincolnshire Council and EQUANS officers, as well as officers and PCSOs from Humberside Police, Humberside Fire and Rescue, along with Home Office officials who visited the suspected illegal HMOs to carry out safety inspections and interview tenants.

The council will now decide whether to take further action.

Councillor Philip Jackson (pictured), council leader with portfolio holder responsibility for housing, says it’s aware of many HMOs in the town which aren’t registered.

“Rogue landlords have been known to fill their properties with as many tenants as they can, without ensuring that their property meets the required safety standards,” he says.

“We are also aware that, particularly in these financially troublesome times, tenants may feel the need to sublet, which is contrary to most tenancy agreements and is illegal.”

Read more: Complete guide to running an HMO.

Adds Jackson: “These visits follow many months of hard work by council and EQUANS officers to discern whether the people living in a property are who they claim to be, how many individuals are occupying the property at any one time, and whether the house meets the required standards.”

North East Lincolnshire Council is currently looking into the possibility of introducing a selective licensing scheme.