Limit of number of people living in a house

mattdragon2

Hi,

I was wondering what is the maximum number of people that are allowed to live in a 3 bedroom house if rented out?

IE. I could increase the number of bedrooms by turning the living/dining rooms into 2 bedrooms, so that could be 5 bedrooms in a 3 bedroom house.

Thanks!

poppysarah

You need to look at what a HMO is and what rules apply. Unless of course you're renting to a family... but most familys require space.

carlsberggal

If you did that you would need a 'multiple tenancy agreement' which I believe is a bit more complicated that shorthold tenancy; such as fire doors etc, especially if there was 4 or more adults there, don't think it applies to children. Ring a letting agent, they will be able to help you

Fire_Fox

What is your target market, families, students etc? Once you have a house full of bedsits and no communal living space you will get a very different type of tenant than if you had a more 'sociable' environment. You are more likely to be looking at DSS and less likely to be looking at young professional sharers, is that acceptable to you? How large is the kitchen, does it have space for five sets of kitchenlia plus food, two fridge-freezers and still have space for a small table and chairs? Are all five 'bedrooms' large enough to be lived as well as slept in? Do you have two bathrooms?

tbs624

mattdragon2 wrote: »

Hi,

I was wondering what is the maximum number of people that are allowed to live in a 3 bedroom house if rented out?

IE. I could increase the number of bedrooms by turning the living/dining rooms into 2 bedrooms, so that could be 5 bedrooms in a 3 bedroom house.

Thanks!

Before you go any further join up to a national LL association and start learning about property letting. Go on to your council website and look up HMO licensing: in addition to mandatory licensing, some areas have selective/additional licensing in place. Fines of around 10 grand plus costs and a criminal record for failing to register an HMO.

tbs624

carlsberggal wrote: »

If you did that you would need a 'multiple tenancy agreement' which I believe is a bit more complicated that shorthold tenancy; such as fire doors etc, especially if there was 4 or more adults there, don't think it applies to children. Ring a letting agent, they will be able to help you

You make a good point about the fire regs.

However, I absolutely wouldn't "ring a letting agent for advice" on something like this - may of them are untrained, unqualified, unregulated etc and have a poor grasp of LL& T/housing law. *Anyone* can set up in business as a Letting Agent.

HMO properties may or may not be let on an AST, depending on eg. total income from property (if over 25K cannot be an AST) May be let with one AST with joint and several liability , or individual tenancy agreements based on exclusive occupancy of own room plus use of shared areas.


If you have brought the property on a mortgage the lender may have specific restrictions - there is usually a high rate charged for mortages on properties to be let as HMOs.

mattdragon2

Thanks for the advice.

Looks like I would need a HMO license from what it states on their website.

A lot more reading up to do regarding what else is needed

anotherginger

mattdragon2 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.

Looks like I would need a HMO license from what it states on their website.

A lot more reading up to do regarding what else is needed

and with an HMO licence comes a lot more work/expense from you. fire doors, self closers on doors, fire-proof means of escape, integrated fire alarm system, incl emergency lighting etc etc...and thats only the fire side of things!

edit - and you'll be inspected by the council on a regular basis - which i don't think usually happens in other private rented accomodation.