Renting with friends

DizzyDasher

Wow, you live and learn! That sounds like a nightmare for young people trying to find somewhere to live - must really restrict the range of places available.

RAS

Yep

I suspect that my local estate agent - two double bedroom rooms would suit two sharers at £700 per month - let out to named parties and ignore the possibility that GF and BF are staying there as well.

G_M

may_fair wrote: »

I don't think that that's the case. Tenants must be related as per s.258 HA2004 in order to form a 'single household'.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/34/part/7/crossheading/meaning-of-house-in-multiple-occupation

Aagh! Thanks - must admit I've never looked closely at the HMO rules. Nightmare. So back when as a student 5 of us took over a house (seem to remember my 'bedroom' was the 'dining room') jointly/severally, that wouldn't work now? LL would have to declare HMO? How do students manage these days?

Oh, and what does this mean:
"(5)Regulations under subsection (2)(b) may, in particular, secure that a group of persons are to be regarded as forming a single household only where (as the regulations may require) each member of the group has a prescribed relationship, or at least one of a number of prescribed relationships, to any one or more of the others.
(6)In subsection (5) “prescribed relationship” means any relationship of a description specified in the regulations"

And 'the regulations' are.... local authority specific? National?

orangeslimes

G_M wrote: »

Aagh! Thanks - must admit I've never looked closely at the HMO rules. Nightmare. So back when as a student 5 of us took over a house (seem to remember my 'bedroom' was the 'dining room') jointly/severally, that wouldn't work now? LL would have to declare HMO? How do students manage these days?

In areas where there are lots of students there will usually be plenty of HMO landlords. (and there are of course landlords who will ignore the HMO requirement and rent you somewhere anyway - but I would be worried they might ignore other requirements like safety too) If you are somewhere with a different demographic it might be harder.

Oh, and what does this mean:
"(5)Regulations under subsection (2)(b) may, in particular, secure that a group of persons are to be regarded as forming a single household only where (as the regulations may require) each member of the group has a prescribed relationship, or at least one of a number of prescribed relationships, to any one or more of the others.
(6)In subsection (5) “prescribed relationship” means any relationship of a description specified in the regulations"

being considered related probably means a couple, sister, brother, mother, child etc.

I know someone who rented a flat where the landlord didn't have an HMO - he instead asked two of them to pretend they were a lesbian couple.

And 'the regulations' are.... local authority specific? National?

I think the details of the regulations may vary across different local authorities (but I am not sure)

Have you tried phoning around lots of local estate agents to ask about availability?

may_fair

G_M wrote: »

Aagh! Thanks - must admit I've never looked closely at the HMO rules. Nightmare. So back when as a student 5 of us took over a house (seem to remember my 'bedroom' was the 'dining room') jointly/severally, that wouldn't work now? LL would have to declare HMO? How do students manage these days?

Oh, and what does this mean:
"(5)Regulations under subsection (2)(b) may, in particular, secure that a group of persons are to be regarded as forming a single household only where (as the regulations may require) each member of the group has a prescribed relationship, or at least one of a number of prescribed relationships, to any one or more of the others.
(6)In subsection (5) “prescribed relationship” means any relationship of a description specified in the regulations"

And 'the regulations' are.... local authority specific? National?

As far as I can gather, it's both national and local, with a national definition of an HMO but councils being able to impose additional licencing requirements. E.g. in s.56 Part 2 it says: (1) A local housing authority may designate either—(a) the area of their district, or (b) an area in their district, as subject to additional licensing in relation to a description of HMOs specified in the designation

S.258 says it "sets out when persons are to be regarded as not forming a single household for the purposes of section 254"; and s.254 says that a building will meet the standard test [for an HMO] if it is "occupied by by persons who do not form a single household".

My interpretation of s.258 is that a group of persons have to be related by blood/marriage/in a relationship to form a single household, and that there are other regulations which specify more particularly how many members of the group must be related etc to how many of the others.