Coventry City Council targets unlicensed HMO landlords

Coventry City Council is intensifying its efforts to identify and penalize unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The enforcement initiative aims to tackle rogue landlords and address resident concerns regarding noise, nuisance behavior, and pest problems linked to poorly maintained properties.

To identify illegal operations, the council is utilizing council tax records, planning information, resident complaints, and intelligence from partner agencies. Councillor John McNicholas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, stated that the council is taking a proactive approach to investigate unlicensed HMOs, emphasizing that the target is landlords who refuse to participate in the licensing system rather than compliant owners.

Councillor Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, reminded landlords of their legal responsibilities to comply with safety standards, noting that failure to do so may result in significant penalties. The council's HMO Enforcement Team conducts multi-agency inspections to improve housing conditions and protect residents from unsafe or exploitative accommodation. Coventry previously ranked first in England for the number of HMO-related civil penalties issued during the 2021/22–2022/23 period.