Special rules that apply to the letting houses in multiple occupation

Posted under Advice by Jermaine

Special rules apply to the letting of properties where there’re a number of individual occupiers who don’t form members of the same household or family. These are called as ‘houses in multiple occupation’ or HMOs. So if you are going for HMOs letting either as a landlord or tenant, you need to do necessary groundwork.

HMOs typically comprise houses converted as a hostel or for bedsits/ flats. There are quite a few houses (according to some estimates around 300,000 in England – excluding self-contained flats), which can be classified as HMOs.

Let’s follow some of the peculiar aspects that are crucial to the to the letting of houses in multiple occupation
•    Local authorities have authority to require landlords for bringing HMOs up to a standard that is fit for the number of people occupying the property. They may force the landlord to provide additional sanitary fittings, facilities for storing/ preparing/ cooking food and heating installations.
•    There are also fire safety provisions to be made.
•    Grants may be made available to the landlord for enabling him to execute the necessary work.