A TOTAL of 12 emergency HMO licenses have been granted to B&Bs across Edinburgh in order to house homeless people who would otherwise have been displaced.
Following the Covid pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the City of Edinburgh Council was forced to house rising numbers of homeless in temporary accommodation, including properties without HMO (house in multiple occupation) licenses.
On Friday though, an emergency meeting was called to consider granting licenses to these properties, so as to prevent residents from being forced to sleep rough.
As a result, applications have been approved for 12 B&Bs with a combined total of 250 beds, despite around 650 individuals potentially being affected by the change.
A HMO license means that a property becomes someone’s primary residence, rather than just housing temporary guests.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s own health and safety regulations outline the necessity for a HMO license – even for temporary accommodation – although around 30 landlords involved did not apply for one, meaning that the council is paying operators who do not comply with their own requirements.
Last-minute applications for HMO licenses went before a meeting of councillors and landlords at the City Chambers on Friday.
All twelve were granted, but some have raised concerns over health and safety practices being flouted in order to reach a quick conclusion.
Conditions of a HMO license include providing sufficient kitchen space, ensuring that doors have working locks, and that fire safety practices are properly followed.
Objects were raised on Friday regarding the poor standard of many of the now-licensed properties, with some reporting that one of the biggest HMOs had only four kitchens for a possible 150 occupants.
Others argued that a large number of cookers and stoves is not necessary for occupants who are not all working nine-to-five schedules and can utilise the food prepared on the property.
There are, however, concerns about the quality of life of those housed in these properties as the facilities offered do not seem to correlate with the sheer number of residents moving in.
With what was reported to be around 650 people living in non-HMO licensed properties before Friday’s decision, the 12 newly licensed B&Bs seem to be maximising capacity so as to ensure that no one will need to be moved to alternative accommodation.
Despite this, many councillors were dismayed at the licensing committee’s decision to allow landlords to operate illegally for so long, with no repercussions.
In a quote to The Herald, City councillor Katrina Faccenda stated: “It’s just really disappointing we’ve got into this situation where the licensing committee is jumping through hoops to give licences to people who, some of them seem to have been operating illegally for quite a long time.”
An Edinburgh Council spokesperson also clarified: “The special meeting of the Licensing Sub-committee is conducted in accordance with the committee’s procedures and relevant legislation.
“Applications are determined in accordance with the legislation and will be determined on their individual merits.”
A council spokesperson today added: “Everyone who needs temporary accommodation has been offered a place to stay either in the city or outside Edinburgh.”
