City council hails success of scheme to clamp down on ‘beds in sheds’

Oxford City Council says it has shut down 21 ‘beds in sheds’ and served 31 enforcement notices since January 2018 when it received government funding to tackle the issue.

The local authority said officers had visited more than 1,000 suspected beds in sheds so far and expected to visit another 400 by the end of the year.

It added that inspections had also revealed more than 70 privately rented properties requiring inspection and a number of unlicensed houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) which had been referred to its HMO Enforcement team to investigate.

The council was given a grant of £274,942 from central government, enabling the funding of three additional full-time members of staff for two years.

As part of the clampdown it has used aerial thermal imaging surveys to identify structures such as garages and outbuildings constructed without planning permission and emitting a heat signature.

“In many cases the structures are used as gyms or offices and occasionally they uncover criminal exploitation of vulnerable people,” the council said.

Cllr Linda Smith, Oxford’s deputy leader and cabinet member for leisure and housing, said: “Oxford has the highest proportion of private rented homes in the country and every private tenant should have a decent roof over their head. We work proactively to drive up standards in private rented housing and we won’t tolerate rogue landlords exploiting tenants by providing substandard and dangerous housing – whether this is a bed in a shed, a house in multiple occupation or a family home.

“Conditions in some of these beds in sheds are appalling and we won’t accept this. If you think there are beds in sheds in your neighbourhood, please contact our Private Sector Safety team and we’ll take action.”

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