HMO licensing guidance for local authorities – and landlords

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has today issued the document “Houses in multiple occupation and residential property licensing reform: guidance for local housing authorities.”
The guidance has been produced for local housing authorities, but is also intended to be of use for landlords.

Click Here to read the full document.

From 1 October 2018 any landlord who lets a property to five or more people from two or more separate households must be licensed by their local housing authority

This document has been prepared as a guide for local housing authorities to help them understand how to implement the reforms to houses in multiple occupation (HMO)licensing.

Under the Housing Act 2004, larger that are 3 or more storeys and occupied by 5 or more persons forming at least 2 separate households are required to be licensed.

With effect from 1 October 2018 mandatory licensing of will be extended so that smaller properties used as in England which house 5 people or more in 2 or more separate households will in many cases require a licence.

New mandatory conditions to be included in licences have also been introduced, prescribing national minimum sizes for rooms used as sleeping accommodation and requiring landlords to adhere to council refuse schemes.

Housing minister, Heather Wheeler MP, said: “Everyone deserves a decent and safe place to live.

“Today’s new guidance for landlords will further protect private renters against bad and overcrowded conditions and poor management practice.”