Extra officer to deal with rising number of HMO applications in Rugby

A wave of applications for multi-occupancy homes is expected in Rugby borough, with potentially a six-fold increase in licences.

Rugby Borough Council is set to appoint a new environmental officer to tackle the increasing number of HMO – homes in multiple occupation – applications.

Legislation surrounding HMOs changed earlier this year and around 300 new licence applications are expected.

In a report to the latest full council meeting, Rugby Borough Council’s head of environment and public realm Dan Green explained that the extra workload involved would be too much for the existing officers.

He said: “The new HMOs will have to be identified, have applications processed and be inspected – both before the issue of licences and during the duration of licences.

“It will not be possible to administer the new scheme within existing resources, therefore it is proposed that the income from the licensing scheme (which must be used for the administration of the scheme) is used to fund a permanent Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or specialist Environmental Protection Officer (EPO).”

Under current legislation, HMOs are properties of three or more storeys with private rooms rented to five or more people who form at least two households, sharing toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities.