Local Authority landlord licensing forcing homelessness?

I have had exactly the same problem with a two bedroom flat at one of my properties in Birmingham. It was built as a two bedroom flat above a shop but the licence only allows two people to live there. Yet another example of the incompetent governing the PRS

Reply to the comment left by alan thomas at 18/06/2025 – 10:43It makes no sense I had the same problem with 2 bed houses where I would let to 3 sharers but that was before we had selective licensing.
With 2 reception rooms downstairs and a seperate kitchen everyone was happy to use one as a bedroom and I could let to 3 sharers and it was cheaper for everyone.
Along came selective licensing and made it more expensive for the tenants because now I can have only have 2 sharers.

Reply to the comment left by alan thomas at 18/06/2025 – 10:43
challenge the council on the SL occupancy. Get them to respond by email exactly why they have issued the licence on this basis.
It goes on floorspace of the property as I understand it – ask to see their maths!
Some numpty may be applying new build/min space standards but this does not apply to older properties.
Kick back until you get their ‘reason’ for it.
There is nothing to say they can’t update the occupancy level even after a licence is issued – it wont effect the status of the licence.

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 18/06/2025 – 13:52
the thing here is in your area a SL might only cover up to 2 sharers, after 3 it might be a small HMO – that comes with a different licence and whole set of obligations…

This situation is like a contraceptive.
Say a couple move in, which was a two bedroomed flat, now down graded to a one bedroom flat, they cannot now have a family unless they want to be evicted.

I really feel this is a controlling factor of peoples lives, when in the past families have lived very happily in this particular flat with two children, whats the problem, why make what could be a happy situation into a controlling farce.

Us longtime landlords are providing spacious, clean, comfortable living standards, at a fair rent, so whats the problem. I personally want to challenge this
Situation in order for tenants to be able to relax and enjoy a happy life thank you very much. Who is with me on this?

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 18/06/2025 – 15:38
These houses are in Newham. Prior to Newham introducing additional licensing in 2013 Newham had no restriction on using the downstairs room as an extra bedroom.
This restriction only came with the introduction of additional licensing.

According to latest figures I can find there are over 320 000 Homeless people in the UK in 2024 .
It has certainly got worse since the Government started to attack private landlords.

It would be interesting to see how it has increased in areas that introduced wholesale Dick Turpin style Licence schemes. Basically all of the London Labour councils.

I am sure many of these people living on the street at Christmas would like a warm room

The licence (as done in many other councils) should say “one household or not more than two persons in two households”. If your licence does not permit a family of three then request a variation to the licence and if that rejected appeal to first-time tribunal.

Connected to this is the crazy law that says in an HMO room less than 6.51m, has to remain permanently empty. So it is preferable for somebody to be living, admittedly for free, on the street, then renting a perfectly habitable safe room. This is meant I’ve sold all three properties which has a single room slightly below this. Evicting 12 tenants.
I want to how many rooms are below this size in London and legally unable to be let.