Renting Question

venomsst

Me and two friends are looking to move into a 3 bedroom house/flat shortly so we can all be closer to our jobs. Money isn't an issue so the deposite wouldn't be a problem so we thought we were all set to go. When we got around to visiting estate agents we got turned away from them due to HMO.

What we wan't to know is there any way we can get around this and if not is there anywhere we can find landlords with HMO properties? It's soo frustrating that we can't leave home and get our own place in our mid twenties due to this law and we don't have 10 years to wait for a council home.

Any help on this is appreciated.

BitterAndTwisted

What law? I'm sorry, I don't understand.

There are places available but I think where you're looking might be in the wrong place. Letting agents aren't ideal, they're looking for single occupants or couples either with or without children. Look in your local newspaper. There are lots of HMOs but normally the rooms are generally let one at a time as each occupant leaves, so finding one with three vacancies might be harder to find.

venomsst

We got told that as we had seperate surnames they couldn't deal with us due to HMO. Is this true or are they just fobbing us off because we are young? Is there anyway that the 3 of us can just rent a normal 3 bedroom house without seperate living spaces? We are respectable young guys with good jobs and can't believe how hard it is to try and get a place. I will have to try the local papers again tomorrow I guess.

BitterAndTwisted

I can't answer for why the letting agent wasn't interested in trying to help you, perhaps it was something to do with drawing up separate agreements or something, I don't know and I can't imagine how not having the same surname could have anything to do with it.

The one thing you might find us that if you are all quite young, don't have a credit history and a large deposit, they might not find you an easy group do deal with but then, how do you think students studying away from home find accommodation?

venomsst

Ok thanks for your help we will just have to stick with it and keep trying.

PasturesNew

The HMO Rules change in different areas. Each town/council works to a modified set of the rules. If we knew the town you were trying to move to then help could be more targetted.

It might be, for instance, that the number of you isn't the problem, but the physical layout of the house or house type you're looking at.

venomsst

We are looking to move to Harrow or Pinner. We have found many nice properties we would move into asap but keep getting rejected as soon as we mention there's 3 of us.

BitterAndTwisted

I think you're being rejected because some people have a picture in their minds about how a household of three young sharers might treat the place.

Have you tied visiting a couple of agents with one of your parents in tow?

chewmylegoff

my understanding is that any house share is technically an HMO (unless you are sharing with someone related to you, or someone you are in a relationship with), but only HMOs with 5 or more occupants need to be licenced.

MoneySavingSpender

How old are you guys? If you are willing to sign maintenance agreements, suggest pictures be taken before and after you are taken.

Do you have previous landlord references? If so all the better...

Have you offered your work references???

I rent out the rooms in my house to professionals in their 20s and 30s and find this quite odd, especially as any Landlord with a void should be gagging for your custom.

sooz

chewmylegoff wrote: »

....but only HMOs with 5 or more occupants need to be licenced.

mandatory licensing applies to 5 or more & 3 or more storeys, but each council can introduce additional licensing with different rules. It may be that in Harrow all HMOs need licencing.

edit. http://www.harrow.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=898&documentID=581
Try looking for a flat, or 2 storey house . They suspended additional licensing for 2 storeys or less

Try asking the local council about their licencing rules, & if they have a list of registered LL's.