Concerns have been raised over the fact multiple HMOs without up-to-date licences are registered in Oldham.

An HMO, or house in multiple occupation, is a property shared by at least three tenants forming more than one household, with shared toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities.

HMOs with five or more people forming two or more households must be licenced by local councils in order to legally operate.

However, Lib Dem Cllr Sam Al-Hamdani has raised concerns after he questioned the council over a number of HMOs which appear to have expired licences on the public register.

Oldham Council said an expired licence does not mean the property is unsafe.

A total of seven HMOs on the register, which is available to view on the Oldham Council website, have expired licences.

The properties are: 1 Crofton Street, OL8 3BZ; 10 Falmouth Street, OL8 1PF; 2 Tilbury Street, OL1 2HJ; 21 Crete Street, OL8 1PG; 60 Trinity Street, OL1 2DE; 75 Milnrow Road, Shaw, OL2 8AL; and Oldham County Court, OL1 1NL.

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Cllr Al-Hamdani, who represents Saddleworth West and Lees, said: “Residents of HMOs and near HMOs need to know that they are being run properly.

"The council has failed to respond when it has been drawn to their attention that a number of properties show as having expired licences, and that is not good enough.

“If the council fails to ensure that HMOs are up to standard, they are letting down many vulnerable people who live in them, and potentially the residents who live nearby too."

He added: “I lived in a shared house when I was a student and when I was first working, as do many people.

"HMOs are often looked down on, but if they are well run, they are an important way to make more housing available.

“Sadly, the rules around licensing exclude too many properties from the requirements and need to be overhauled.

“We should be pressing for more HMOs to be licenced, instead of which the council seems to be failing to enforce the licencing rules we have.”

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Councillor Elaine Taylor, Cabinet member for housing and licensing, said: “We are aware of Cllr Al-Hamdani’s concerns and our officers have been in contact to inform him we are currently processing renewal applications and undertaking inspections on several of the properties he has highlighted.

“While we’re aware some licenses have expired, this does not mean a property is unsafe to occupy and tenants are allowed to remain in the property during this period.

“HMO licences last for a period of five years, and during that time our licensing officers carry out interim inspections to ensure the safety of these properties.

“Several steps are also taken by the council during the approval and renewal of HMO licences to ensure they are safe.

“Once a licence is approved, the information is then updated on the Public Register.

“In the meantime, we continue to work closely with HMO licence holders to remind them when their license is due to expire and in most cases, renewal applications are submitted on time.”