Part 2Licensing of houses in multiple occupation

Grant or refusal of licences

66Tests for fitness etc. and satisfactory management arrangements

(1)

In deciding for the purposes of section 64(3)(b) or (d) whether a person (“P”) is a fit and proper person to be the licence holder or (as the case may be) the manager of the house, the local housing authority must have regard (among other things) to any evidence within subsection (2) or (3).

(2)

Evidence is within this subsection if it shows that P has—

(a)

committed any offence involving fraud or other dishonesty, or violence or drugs, or any offence listed in Schedule 3 to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42) (offences attracting notification requirements);

(b)

practised unlawful discrimination on grounds of sex, colour, race, ethnic or national origins or disability in, or in connection with, the carrying on of any business;

(c)

contravened any provision of the law relating to housing or of landlord and tenant law; or

(d)

acted otherwise than in accordance with any applicable code of practice approved under section 233.

(3)

Evidence is within this subsection if—

(a)

it shows that any person associated or formerly associated with P (whether on a personal, work or other basis) has done any of the things set out in subsection (2)(a) to (d), and

(b)

it appears to the authority that the evidence is relevant to the question whether P is a fit and proper person to be the licence holder or (as the case may be) the manager of the house.

(4)

For the purposes of section 64(3)(b) the local housing authority must assume, unless the contrary is shown, that the person having control of the house is a more appropriate person to be the licence holder than a person not having control of it.

(5)

In deciding for the purposes of section 64(3)(e) whether the proposed management arrangements for the house are otherwise satisfactory, the local housing authority must have regard (among other things) to the considerations mentioned in subsection (6).

(6)

The considerations are—

(a)

whether any person proposed to be involved in the management of the house has a sufficient level of competence to be so involved;

(b)

whether any person proposed to be involved in the management of the house (other than the manager) is a fit and proper person to be so involved; and

(c)

whether any proposed management structures and funding arrangements are suitable.

(7)

Any reference in section 64(3)(c)(i) or (ii) or subsection (4) above to a person having control of the house, or to being a person of any other description, includes a reference to a person who is proposing to have control of the house, or (as the case may be) to be a person of that description, at the time when the licence would come into force.