Coventry City Council’s Safer Housing and Communities team, along with partners, have carried out a series of targeted enforcement visits across the city.
These visits uncovered multiple unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and potential breaches of housing and safety standards.
The coordinated activity with the Police and Immigration officers last week, involved both multi-agency inspections and dedicated HMO enforcement work, focusing on improving housing conditions and protecting residents from unsafe or exploitative accommodation.
Premises inspected included nail bars in Spon Street and Corporation Street, where officers checked for potential on-site accommodation.
While no residential use was identified at one location, further follow-up action has been triggered in relation to suspected HMOs linked to worker addresses.
The Council’s HMO Enforcement Team also identified several properties suspected of operating as unlicensed HMOs, including:
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A property on Uxbridge Road, where a warrant was executed and evidence gathered suggesting it as an unlicensed Section 257 HMO
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Accommodation above commercial premises on Foleshill Road, where multiple suspected unlicensed HMOs were uncovered, ranging from four to six occupants across several households
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Further properties where evidence has been secured and investigations are progressing
At one location, officers identified significant food hygiene and waste management concerns. Following referral to the Council’s Food Safety Team, the premises were subject to an immediate intervention and have since been closed due to serious hygiene failings. Further enforcement action is now under consideration.
The visits form part of Coventry City Council’s ongoing work to tackle rogue landlords, improve housing standards and ensure that all residents are living in safe, legally compliant accommodation.
Councillor John McNicholas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and cohesion, said: “This proactive enforcement work demonstrates our commitment to protecting tenants and holding landlords to account.
“We will continue to take firm action where properties are found to be operating illegally or where conditions put residents at risk. Working with our partners allows us to identify issues early and respond effectively."
Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: "Landlords are reminded of their legal responsibilities, including the requirement to licence HMOs where applicable and comply with all relevant safety standards. Failure to do so may result in significant penalties".
In several cases, officers obtained witness statements and are progressing enforcement action.