Licensing inspection

[Section20z]

Just had letter from London Borough of ****** saying they will be inspecting my house at some time in the next 28 days to ensure licence compliance. No further notice will be given and tenants are expected to grant access to all areas, windows to be left open for air supply, and doors all left open so inspectors don't have to touch door handles. They will spend up to 20 minutes in each bedroom which must be vacated by tenants.
Does anyone else think this is a gross invasion of privacy in my tenants own home ??
Imagine if they wanted to come round your own home and do this ????

[jpucng62]

That is appalling! What happens if no one is home when they visit?

[theartfullodger]

When you asked, what did they say prompted the planned visit (or did you already know) please?

[AlexR]

Local Councils are driven by law so they must have the right to do what they ask otherwise you would be entitled to refuse. It is likely to be justified as confirming tenant safety for which they have responsibilities. A question I would be asking myself is why they have chosen my particular house and is there anything I ( or my tenants ) have left undone, or indeed have the tenants done anything to cause the council to visit. The random time of the visit seems to suggest they expect they might find something such as overcrowding or maybe one of the tenants has complained to the council. I would be checking with my local contacts to see if this is a usual thing or a 'special' visit.

I used to run a couple of Sui Generis HMOs( 7 tenants or more) and the council took an extra interest in them. I was inspected several times by appointment with the council and each time they recommended some improvement or change and on one occasion found a tenant had covered a fire detector in order to smoke in his room without activating the fire alarm. The guilty tenant received a proper telling off from the council offical who was delighted to have justified his visit.

[royw]

So they expect your tenants to leave all the doors and windows wide open whilst they go out to work for the next 28 days? Yeah, right...

[davetg]

I know councils manage to recruit a lot of idiots but this seems like a scam to me - why would anyone need to spend up to twenty minutes in a bedroom to check if you have met the licensing requirements?

[ash72]

I would confirm it all with someone who heads up the department within the council, I suspect, someone (most likely a T) has informed them, and the council don't have to tell the LL who it was. If this is true, I would prepare your T's by informing them that an the council wants to inspect the property, and if they agree, anyone who doesn't, provide the information to the council on the day of inspection saying they do not allow access, and that they would need to go to court to gain access.

[Hudson01]

Well this is for the benefit of the tenats ??? So we keep being told !! I would check with the council though, it sounds nuts.

[Section20z]

I would confirm it all with someone who heads up the department within the council, I suspect, someone (most likely a T) has informed them, and the council don't have to tell the LL who it was. If this is true, I would prepare your T's by informing them that an the council wants to inspect the property, and if they agree, anyone who doesn't, provide the information to the council on the day of inspection saying they do not allow access, and that they would need to go to court to gain access.

When you assume, you make an ass out of u and me .

My tenants have been there eight years and are as pissed off with the new licensing regime as I am. It's a routine inspection, all the boroughs do it but it's the demanding entitled attitude that annoys more.
The council don't need to go to court, according to them they can demand access .

[royw]

Sounds like the power has gone to their heads Can't you, or rather the tenants, have some fun? Well placed boobie traps or a fierce dog perhaps?

[Section20z]

That is appalling! What happens if no one is home when they visit?

It says they will leave details to rearrange visit but goes on to quote part 7 of the housing act 2004 - Power of Entry.

[jpucng62]

It says they will leave details to rearrange visit but goes on to quote part 7 of the housing act 2004 - Power of Entry.

So they are going to break into your tenants' home to see if you are meeting licensing criteria? Surely they must actually make an appointment with the tenant?

[jpkeates]

They have to give 24 hours notice of an inspection, but then they can enter the premises.

Local authorities have very extensive powers.

[AlexR]

......... I would prepare your T's by informing them that an the council wants to inspect the property

And by so doing you may have got the tenants to sort out a problem in your property with just a threat of inspection - very clever. If these powers were used by Local Authorities in association with the Additional Licencing requirements it may be their way of trying to sort out some issue that persists in the area, however it seems over the top and a bit 1984.

Section - do you have any idea what has prompted this inspection? Are you the manager of the HMO?

[Section20z]

As per #9 it's routine inspection, just a house with 4 sharers. It's the tenants who received the letter and I guess the council feel they have now given 24 hours notice by saying they will get a visit at some unknown time !!
Maybe it's just a ruse they have sent to every licensed property to keep people on their toes but seems a bit big brother to me.
Tenants already hate being forced to have a fire exit sign over the front door (duh), licence and gas cert stuck on the wall, and having to sign a good behaviour contract to live in their home.
The world's gone mad.