Purpose

To receive the outcome of the consultation and
to consider the introduction of an Additional Licensing Scheme for
Houses in Multiple Occupation.

Content

The Executive Resolved

That  (i)    a
borough wide additional licensing scheme
(“designation”) for landlords with Houses in Multiple
Occupation in Woking, as outlined in Appendix 3 of the report,
should be designated;

         
(ii)   the Additional Licensing
designation should come into force on 1 January 2026;

         
(iii)  the Additional Licensing
designation should cease on 31 December 2030;

         
(iv)  the Director of Legal and
Democratic Services should be authorised to take all necessary
steps to implement the decision in recommendations (i) – (iii) including execution of any
document;

         
(v)   the fee structure and charges
proposed in Appendix 3 of the report are implemented for both the
Additional Licensing Scheme and for the Mandatory Licensing Scheme
from 1 January 2026;

         
(vi)  authority be delegated to the
Strategic Director – Place to take all necessary steps
required to implement the Additional Licensing Scheme to include
statutory notification requirements required by law and to make
minor amendments to the standards and conditions including
amendments to the extent permitted or required by law;

       (vii)   authority be delegated to the Strategic
Director – Place to undertake any review of the operation of
the Additional Licensing Scheme; and

       (viii)  authority be delegated to the Strategic Director
– Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders, to make
minor amendments to the Housing Standards Licensing
Policy.

Reason: The Council’s discretionary power to
implement an Additional Licensing scheme are set out in Part 2 of
the Housing Act 2004. This enables the Council to require
additional sizes of Houses in Multiple Occupation to be licensed
within a designated area of the Borough.