How does HMO work?

chrestomanci

Hi,

I'm in the process of renting a 3-floor house. It is currently occupied by another tenant, so there'd be a total of two of us, meaning HMO is not required.


However, I plan on having friends/the gf stay over occasionally. Would this be "illegal", in that since the house doesn't have HMO, no more than two people can stay at any one time?


Would be very interested to see what you say.

Thanks!

clutton_2

HMO's are about households as much as anything else... and you and a girlfriend would form one household..... so no problem

chrestomanci

Wait- could you explain that?

HOUSE currently has me + current person living there = 2 people.

If my gf sleeps over twice a week... would she raise it to '3 people'? Or is it because we're dating that she's "part of my 1 unit"? Or... since she doesn't technically live there, HMO doesn't apply?

Basically, I'm just concerned with trying NOT to break any rules.

clutton_2

if she sleeps only occasionally she does not live there - therefore house is not HMO. Even if she did live with you, you and her would be one "household" and the other tenant would be one household so there would still be only two households which is not a HMO

have you looked on your local authority to find out what their definition of HMO is ? they do vary

chrestomanci

Thanks

I guess I'm just trying to figure out at which point a person turns from "sleeping there" to "living there".. at least in the eyes of the council!

Furthermore, doesn't a 'couple' have to be legally bound/married in order to qualify as 'one unit'?

BitterAndTwisted

As long as any g/f or occasional guest keeps their own place and isn't registered for council Tax I can't see how they would be considered as living there in the first place.

The "unit" part is about how you live in the property, not your marital status. Presumably any g/f would be sharing your bedroom when they stay over rather than permanently occupying a separate room.

chrestomanci

Ah. That's great, clears up loads of things. Thanks.

red40

qwertymz wrote: »

Hi,


However, I plan on having friends/the gf stay over occasionally. Would this be "illegal", in that since the house doesn't have HMO, no more than two people can stay at any one time?


Thanks!

You are a HMO anyway if there are two seperate households living in the property. With regards to people staying over, personally I wouldn't have any problems, although I would suggest you check with your landlord or letting agent.

charlie792

I always thought HMO was only applicable for 5 or more?

PasturesNew

The underlying issue with HMOs is: if it caught fire, would you care one iota if anybody else was in the house or not, or if they died. Your gf, you'd presumbly be trying to help out - you'd be shouting to fireman that she was in there and where.

Random strangers wouldn't know who was in/out and wouldn't have the VI in getting somebody saved.

Beyond that it's about enough facilities available per person so it's not a slum. e.g. 12 people can't cook in a kitchen 6'x6' with only one stove and 2' of worktop. Neither can 12 people queue for the one loo.

BitterAndTwisted

charlie792 wrote: »

I always thought HMO was only applicable for 5 or more?

I believe that it's three or more. Also, I believe that's bedrooms rather than the number of persons.