46 houses of multiple occupancy in Worcester have been improved by landlords in the last three months, following interventions by Worcester City Council’s Private Sector Housing Team.

These interventions are the result of increased protections for tenants brought in by Labour city councillors during 2023. Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) are now held to higher standards, particularly around health and safety. Under the new regulations, HMOs can be subject to inspection by council officers following complaints, with officers empowered to issue Improvement Notices.

During the last quarter, 17 new property standards complaints have been received and Officers have undertaken 29 HMO inspections. 5 Housing Health and Safety Rating System inspections were undertaken, 4 Category 1 hazards (most severe) and 10, Category 2 hazards (less severe) have been identified.

Speaking after the improvements, WCC Leader Lynn Denham said – “Everyone in Worcester is entitled to live in a safe and secure home. This Labour-led administration is focussed on improving living conditions for residents, and these measures on HMOs are an important part of the city council’s toolkit. We will continue to work with private sector landlords to ensure housing stock and conditions across the city are up to a fit standard. We look forward to continuing improvements in the coming months and years.”

Contact Details:
Mike Stafford
Worcester Labour Party
mstafford1284@gmail.com
07500 877 493