How safe am I as a tenant on a room by room renting?

lavandergirl_2

Im a tenant renting a room. The owners bought a 2 bedroom house and converted it into 4 bedrooms by making the living room and reception as additional 2 bedrooms. There is a small communcal kitchen and dining area. It didnt seem to bother me at first but when I read a thread about planning permissions and things, I got worried.

seven-day-weekend

It doesn't need planning permission to convert living rooms into bedrooms, (as long as there is no external alteration), but if the house is fully let as rooms and the landlord doesn't live there, it may have become classed as a House in Multiple Occupation and be subject to these rules. It may also have to conform to the Building Regulations .

CFC

Hi Lavandargirl, you've got nothing to worry about. Even if it is not all on the level so to speak (eg landlord is not declaring it for tax), nobody could accuse you of any wrongdoing. The only concern for you might be, are there still two exits out of the house- just in case of a fire. I'm guessing there's one out of the kitchen.

clutton_2

if 4 unrelated people live here each in their own room, it is a HMO and the local housing authority will need it to be brought up to fire standards. If it needs licensing, then the deadline for licensing is now up, and your landlord cannot throw you out untiil he has complied with the new legislation (Housing Act 2004)