A 24-room HMO has been ordered to provision extended kitchen facilities for its homeless tenants in order to get its licence back.<\/p>\n
The House in Multiple Occupation licence for 2 Minto Street had lapsed, meaning the licence holder had to reapply.<\/p>\n
The re-application was heard at Monday\u2019s meeting of Edinburgh Council\u2019s Licensing Sub-Committee.<\/p>\n
According to council officer Andrew Mitchell, an inspection found that three bedrooms in the properties were found to be below the minimum width allowed by HMO regulations.<\/p>\n
In addition, officers said there was an underprovision of cooking facilities in the house, with all flats having microwaves and refrigerators while sharing one small kitchen space.<\/p>\n
The previous licence holder, Shahid Hafeez, said: \u201cI\u2019ve had a licence on this particular property since 2003, and through my own stupidity it lapsed for two weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s a re-apply, and why it\u2019s being taken as a brand new licence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe three rooms in question, although they are a lot bigger than standard requirements are, the only reason they are in breach is 10 centimetres.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new guidelines state that a room should be 2.2 metres wide. These rooms are 2.11 metres wide, so it\u2019s very marginal. They\u2019re a lot bigger than the standard guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the rooms were all close to 10 square metres, while the minimum requirement is 6.5 square metres.<\/p>\n
Councillors also asked why plans submitted appeared to show all three rooms as being wider than 2.2 metres wide.<\/p>\n
He said that this was due to fixed wardrobes being installed in the rooms, which reduced the remaining width of the rooms below that line.<\/p>\n
Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross asked Mr Hafeez: \u201cThe suggestion of officers of a potential way forward for the kitchen facilities is to use a storeroom in addition to the current catering facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to ask you what the store-room is currently used for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Hafeez replied: \u201cThe storeroom is literally a laundry room, which is just off the main kitchen area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have cutlery and plates, so if we were to use that as extra kitchen space, storage space, microwaves, it could be done.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the question raised to me [by a council employee], albeit we\u2019ve been running and providing temporary accommodation for all these years and it\u2019s never been raised before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cllr Ross said that he would like to see the utility space transformed into a kitchen space, and that there were too many people sharing the existing kitchen facility.<\/p>\n
He cited the high costs of takeaway as a concern for the homeless residents in the building.<\/p>\n
Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell asked whether converting the space would impede on the ability for the residents to do their washing.<\/p>\n
Mr Hafeez said the HMO would still be able to provide washing facilities for tenants, even if the space was converted.<\/p>\n
He continued that the space was a laundry room, but that washing machines were located in each room.<\/p>\n
Conservative councillor and convener of the Licensing Sub-Committee Joanna Mowat asked: \u201cWhat facilities does everyone have in their room?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Hafeez replied: \u201cThey have washing machines, fridges, microwaves, wardrobes, chest of drawers, inside cabinets, bed, mattress, hanging space, and storage space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cllr Mowat said: \u201cI think I\u2019m probably more relaxed about the size of the rooms than I am about the kitchen facilities. I think more cooking space and worktop needs to be put in.\u201d<\/p>\n
She then asked the Sub-Committee if it would be comfortable to require that Mr Hafeez add new worktop space, a double sink, an oven and a hob in the utility room, while approving the use of the rooms that did not meet the width standard.<\/p>\n
Labour councillor Margaret Graham said: \u201cI\u2019m happy for [those] to be added as a condition, but I\u2019m not happy with the three rooms.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will repeat again, [the standard] is there for a reason. People cannot feel the walls are moving into them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why 2.2 metres was met, that\u2019s the minimum standard that should be set. I feel like we have a duty to make sure that there is nobody in the city living in a room that is narrower than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The committee approved Cllr Mowat\u2019s proposals, while adding a requirement that the changes are enacted within three months.<\/p>\n
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter<\/p>\n