Notice is hereby given that on the 21st December 2023 Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has confirmed the designation of an additional licensing scheme in respect of Houses in Multiple Occupation covering all electoral wards in Rhondda Cynon Taf. This scheme will be known as Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council Additional Licensing (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Scheme 2014 ("The Scheme"). The confirmation of the designation is in accordance with Section 56 – 60 of The Housing Act 2004 and Regulation 9 of The Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Other Houses (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2006.
The Scheme to which the designation applies has General Approval of the Welsh Assembly Government under the Housing Act 2004 (Additional HMO Licensing Wales) General Approval 2007 that came into force 13th March 2007.
The Scheme applies to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) within the area described above, except those exempted by the relevant sections of the Act and those licensable under the Orders and Regulations made pursuant to Section 55 (2)(a) of the Housing Act 2004 (Mandatory Licensing). The Scheme will be effective from 1st April 2024 and unless revoked beforehand or extended will cease to have effect on 31st March 2029.
The Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council Additional Licensing (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Scheme 2009 shall be revoked on the 31st March 2024. All licences issued under this scheme that remain in force at 31st March 2024 shall transfer to the new scheme and remain valid until they expire or are otherwise revoked by the Council or are surrendered.
Any landlord, person managing or tenant in Rhondda Cynon Taf should seek advice from the Housing Strategy and Standards Team of the Public Health and Protection Service of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council as to whether their property is affected by the designation of this Scheme.
A person having control of or managing a licensable HMO in the designated area must apply to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council for a licence.
Failure to apply for a licence is an offence under Section 72(1) of The Housing Act 2004 for which a person may be fined up to £20,000. An application may also be made to the Residential Property Tribunal to make a Rent Repayment Order requiring the repayment of up to 12 months’ rent collected during the time the property was unlicensed.
An application to license a HMO must be in a prescribed format, must contain certain particulars and must be accompanied by the requisite fee.
Futher information relating to the designation of the new scheme is available by contacting The Housing Standards Team, Public Health and Protection, Ty Elai, Williamstown, CF40 1NY or telephone (01443) 425001 or e-mail publichealthhousing@rctcbc.gov.uk