War on ‘Rising Damp’ rogues

Tough new policies to weed out the Rigsbys 

A crackdown on rogue landlords who cram people into large houses without proper fire safety or hygiene facilities is being carried out by Oldham Council inspectors.

Two landlords could be the first to fall foul of the new hard-line policy when a father and son from Oldham appear at Oldham Magistrates Court on December 15 for 32 breaches of the Housing Act.

The new hard-line policy follows a surge in applications for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) — where people have one bedroom and share kitchen, bathroom, or sitting rooms.

They were sent up in the 1970s TV show with the dingy rooms, “Rising Damp”, where rogue landlord Rigsby was played by Leonard Rossiter.

Now the council has a three-year plan, with strict new licences costing up to £1,000 for the biggest houses, revised housing standards, charges which reflect all the work involved in inspections, and prosecutions for the worst landlords.

The document, approved by the council on November 22, follows planning applications for new HMOs in a large former pub, which was approved, and one above a takeaway, which was turned down.

There are 130 HMOs in Oldham and there have been 11 requests for new ones in 2010/11. Staff expect more will be identified as their campaign hits town.

They have already uncovered hazards including poor fire and food safety and lack of heating.

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for regeneration and environment, said: “We cannot risk people’s lives. We need to make sure there are basic things like good fire doors — there are many single people in these rooms, and no one else to raise the alarm.

“We may charge over £1,000 for a licence but if there are 10 people in a large house paying £50 a week it won’t take long to get a licence to operate.

“We are making people do a proper job, and we hope this will become a region-wide policy through the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities.

“There are national guidelines laid down by Government for HMOs, and we cannot ban them, but we can inspect them and raise standards.

“I had hoped the days of Rigsby and ‘Rising Damp’ were over.”

A report to councillors says that while HMOs are helpful to single people on low incomes, often the physical condition of the homes is poor and they change the character of an area.

It adds: “Such areas may also experience excessive demands for services such as refuse collection and place severe strains on infrastructure.

“I some cases we have found HMOs house persons with substance misuse and mental health problems.”