Landlords renting out buildings which house more than one family are being urged to get the correct licence or risk being hit with fines.

The warning comes ahead of a crackdown on unlicensed properties by Gravesham council later this year.

The council’s private housing team will be carrying out checks on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the borough later this year.

It is giving landlords the opportunity to work with the local authority before then to ensure all the necessary documentation is in place so they are operating legally and without the fear of prosecution.

Cllr Jenny Wallace, the council’s cabinet member for housing services, said: “Everyone who lives in the Gravesham area should be secure in the knowledge they live in a safe home.

“While the majority of private landlords in the borough ensure their properties meet all legal requirements, there are some who may not be fully aware of their responsibilities and a very small minority who may simply ignore those requirements.

“This is their opportunity to get their houses in order with the help of our Private Sector Housing team if they need advice and guidance.”

Cllr Wallace added that later in the year council officers would be carrying out checks on suspected unlicensed HMOs and following up with enforcement action where appropriate, and inviting tenants to come forward in confidence if they have any concerns with their current accommodation.

She said: “The penalties for managing an HMO without a licence are severe, with the potential of facing prosecution at magistrates’ court, an unlimited fine, a banning order, and being added to the rogue landlord database.

“I would urge any landlords who are in any doubt about whether their properties meet all the required standards to talk to us now, before we come calling on them later.”

An HMO is a property rented out by at least three people who are not from the same household but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen. It’s sometimes known as a house share.

To successfully apply for a licence to operate an HMO, a landlord must show the building has a valid gas safety record, a valid five-year electrical installation condition report, a valid fire detection test certificate, a valid fire risk assessment and a valid PAT certificate for electrical appliances.

Alternatively, call Gravesham’s Private Housing Team on 01474 337921.