Is the HMO i live in meant to be registered?

AdamB

I currently live in an HMO. There was originally 5 of us in a house but very recently, the house next door has been joined on to this one due to a discrepancy on the planning permission. one of the rooms has been converted to a kitchen and I expect the old kitchens in both of the original properties will be converted to bedrooms. There is now 4 of us in this part of the house and 3 or 4 in the part that was next door. The house is on 2 levels (downstairs and upstairs). Should it be a licenced as an HMO or is it OK to stay as unlicenced? The local authority is St Albans City Council if thats any help. I have tried looking on their website but I cant find anything that tells me if it should or not.

BitterAndTwisted

I don't get it: you say that you live in an HMO and then ask if it should be licensed as one or is it OK to stay unregistered.

Each Local Authority interprets the regs slightly differently so why don't you phone them and ask them if you can't find the info on their website?

RedFraggle

Does this not clarify what they class as an HMO?
http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/Images/licensing_of_hous_tcm15-2352.pdf
it's from here
http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/housing/multiple-occupancy-homes/
and states

Initially, only those properties with the highest health and safety risks will need to be licensed. These will be properties with three or more storeys, having five or more people living as more than one household and sharing at least one standard amenity (such as a toilet, bath, washbasin, kitchen etc).
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]What counts as a property of 3 or more storeys in height?
[/FONT][/FONT]The following examples are of property types which will be counted:

• House with 3 or more floor levels,
• House with attic conversion,
• House with 2 floors above ground and a habitable basement,
• Property with three or more floor levels and a shop or other commercial use on the ground floor and living accommodation above,
• Property with 3 or more floor levels, living accommodation on the lower 2 levels and commercial use above,
• House on a sloping site with 2 floor levels at the front and 3 at the back.

What is an HMO?
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is defined in section 254 of the Housing Act 2004. The definition is long and complicated and is therefore summarised in this section; final determination will need to be made by reference to the section and any relevant guidance. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]An HMO is a building, or part of a building, (such as a flat) that is occupied by more than one household:

• which shares an amenity, such as a bathroom, toilet or cooking facilities,
• which is a converted building – which may contain but is not entirely self-contained flats, e.g. floor-by-floor lets, (whether or not some amenities areshared or lacking),
• is converted into self contained flats, but does not meet as a minimum standard the requirements of the 1991 Building Regulations, and at least one third of the flats are occupied under short tenancies.

Note: A building occupied by just two people living as two households does not constitute an HMO. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]The building must be occupied by more than one household: [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]• as their only or main residence, [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]• as a refuge for people escaping domestic violence, L/hmolicensing/hmolicensingdocforwebver2 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]• by students during term time, [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]A household is:

• a family,
• a single person living on their own, couples and same sex couples,• other relationships, such as foster parents, carers and domestic staff.

[/FONT][/FONT]

AdamB

RedFraggle wrote: »

Does this not clarify what they class as an HMO?
http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/Images/licensing_of_hous_tcm15-2352.pdf
it's from here
http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/housing/multiple-occupancy-homes/
and states

Initially, only those properties with the highest health and safety risks will need to be licensed. These will be properties with three or more storeys, having five or more people living as more than one household and sharing at least one standard amenity (such as a toilet, bath, washbasin, kitchen etc).
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]What counts as a property of 3 or more storeys in height?
[/FONT][/FONT]The following examples are of property types which will be counted:

• House with 3 or more floor levels,
• House with attic conversion,
• House with 2 floors above ground and a habitable basement,
• Property with three or more floor levels and a shop or other commercial use on the ground floor and living accommodation above,
• Property with 3 or more floor levels, living accommodation on the lower 2 levels and commercial use above,
• House on a sloping site with 2 floor levels at the front and 3 at the back.

What is an HMO?
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is defined in section 254 of the Housing Act 2004. The definition is long and complicated and is therefore summarised in this section; final determination will need to be made by reference to the section and any relevant guidance. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]An HMO is a building, or part of a building, (such as a flat) that is occupied by more than one household:

• which shares an amenity, such as a bathroom, toilet or cooking facilities,
• which is a converted building – which may contain but is not entirely self-contained flats, e.g. floor-by-floor lets, (whether or not some amenities areshared or lacking),
• is converted into self contained flats, but does not meet as a minimum standard the requirements of the 1991 Building Regulations, and at least one third of the flats are occupied under short tenancies.

Note: A building occupied by just two people living as two households does not constitute an HMO. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]The building must be occupied by more than one household: [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]• as their only or main residence, [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]• as a refuge for people escaping domestic violence, L/hmolicensing/hmolicensingdocforwebver2 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]• by students during term time, [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]A household is:

• a family,
• a single person living on their own, couples and same sex couples,• other relationships, such as foster parents, carers and domestic staff.

[/FONT][/FONT]

I must have had one of my blind moments when I was trying to find it.ROTFL

RedFraggle

No worries