The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Cracking down on rogue landlords, Lincolnshire Police are asking the public to report suspected dangerous conditions in houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs).
Since 2018, HMOs need to have a licence issued by the local council.
The licence was established to safeguard residents, as the property has to meet approved standards in size, facilities and safety features such as fire doors, smoke detectors and have satisfactory electrics and boilers.
Police said dangerous HMOs are still an issue, with the large number of seasonal agricultural workers that pass through Lincolnshire each year and the opportunies to exploit them.
Workers can be housed in small properties with several beds or mattresses crammed into each room and with little or no fire protection and dangerous electrical wiring.
Lincolnshire Police are working in conjunction with South Holland District Council Private Sector Housing Officers to inspect these properties. Recent inspections have resulted in the prohibition of several properties in the South Holland, including Holbeach town centre.
Lincolnshire Police has urged the public to report any address that they think may be a house being used as an HMO. A spokesman said: “If you suspect there is more than five people living in one address which are not one single family then it is likely to need a licence.
“There may appear to be a lot of people coming and going from the house or mini buses dropping workers off and picking them up or a large turn over of people living there. If this is the case then contact South Holland District Council Private Sector Housing on 01775 761161.”
Inspector Gareth Boxall said: “We will continue to work with SHDC and our other partners and are determined to ensure that we protect the most vulnerable in our society.
“These victims have had to live in terrible conditions whilst those responsible profit; we will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.”
