Additional Licensing Approved in the Cardiff Community ward of Cathays - 05/03/2010
News For: All Site Users
Additional Licensing Scheme for Cathays Community Ward approved
On the 4th March 2010 the Council's Executive Business Meeting confirmed an Additional Licensing Scheme will be introduced in the Cathays Community Ward of Cardiff. Additional licensing powers contained within the Housing Act 2004, enable the Council to extend the scope of its HMO licensing to other descriptions of HMO either in all or in part of its district. This scheme will allow all properties to be identified, inspected and consistent standards applied. This will secure a sustained improvement across the area because conditions are attached which are relevant for a 5 year period. The scheme will go live on 1st July 2010.
The additional licensing public notice can be downloaded HERE.
An additional licensing fact sheet (including a map of the area) can be downloaded HERE.
The fire safety and amenity standards for additional licensing can be downloaded HERE.
If you believe you have a HMO in the area that will need to be licensed, contact the Council on the details below to get your information registered, so that once the application form is available, one can be sent out to you (an application is not likely to be available until much closer to the 1 July 2010). Applications will need to be filled out in the whole by the 'licensee', which in most cases will be one of the owners of the property.
Please note plans of properties will not be required to be submitted part of the application, however 'sketch' plans are useful in order to assist officers with visits.
Although certain details are still being confirmed, additional information can be requested from Private Sector Housing, Cardiff Council, Room 134, City Hall, Cardiff, CF10 3ND or by telephoning 029 20 87 1762 or by e-mailing PrivateSectorHousing@cardiff.gov.uk
All information can also be found on the Council's Private Sector Housing pages: www.cardiff.gov.uk/privaterent
An HMO is defined in the Housing Act 2004 (sections 254-260). To generalise a HMO is:
- Any accommodation where amenities are shared by 3 or more households; or
- Any converted building split into flats where the conversion is not up to 1991 Building Regulations, and less than 2/3rds are owner-occupied.
A household can only be made up of people related to each other, or living as man and wife, etc.
If you are unsure whether the property you own in the Cathays area is either in the licensing area, or a HMO, please contact the Council to seek clarification.