Help Understanding HMO (House under multiple occupation)

TJ27

We sometimes target a particular area, usually by ward rather than postcode, and knock on every door to determine which houses are rented. We then take action where necessary. I don't see how councils could use selective HMO licencing on all rented properties though. Firstly because not all HMO's are licensable and secondly because not all rented house are HMO's.

I think councils have an obligation to mandadory licence certain HMO's, typically three storey ones with more than five occupants. They are able to exercise a certain degree of discretion regarding selective licensing and that will vary from area to area. But they can't licence rented houses which aren't licensable.

Interestingly, three storey HMO's which have been converted to flats are not licensable. So we have had a glut of planning applications to convert three storey shared houses to self contained flats! You can avoid licensing that way but of course such a property is still an HMO and the means of escape standards still apply for example. This is a method by which rubbish landlords are able to retain control of their house unfortunately. However, one would hope that building regs would apply to the conversion and the properties will be brought up to a good standard in that way.

So hopefully the loophole is not too wide.

clutton_2

"But they can't licence rented houses which aren't licensable" - this is exactly what Manchester CC is trying to do in 4 postcode areas - to "bring the standards of private rentd housing up to modern day standards" is what they say !

amboy

whats the odds that they target the 3 storey houses which have been turned into flats in the next review

clutton_2

the latest thing is that landlords will need to produce a

Energy Performance Certificate for each property !!!! we have till 2009 to do that !!

blinking nanny state, there are now over 70 different Acts of Parliament which regulate rented property !!!!!!!

AAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrgghhh

runs screaming tearing hair out !!!!!!!!

TJ27

I think they're on very dodgy ground trying to licence properties which aren't licenceable. Even non HMO's? I don't think they have any right to do so. If I were a landlord I would definitely challenge that.

Unless the law is different in England than here in Wales of course.

Personally I wouldn't have a problem with then targeting 3 storey houses in flats in the next review. They are the most dangerous properties, whether they are in flats or shared houses. But at the moment they ain't licenceable, so that's that.

clutton_2

they are doing a "survey" as we speak - targetting tenants to ask them if they want to have better landlords !! guess what the results of the survey will be ?? They are claiming that their discretionary powers will allow them to do this, should the "public" want it. The way the questions are worded on the survey will inevitably produce a "yes" response

call me cynical if you will !!