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Looking at a House which is an HMO
MadelinesMum
Posts: 862 Forumite
Hi all, I've found a property I like but it is registered as HMO and it looks as if it has tenants / lodgers living there at the moment.
The EA says "Oh yes, you will have vacant possession and it's easy to remove the HMO status, you just have to visit the council offices"
Now, I know from past experience the EA would probably say what I want to hear, just to make his sale.
Could the council refuse to remove the HMO status and can I believe the EA that it will be empty when I move in or is it all just a recipe for disaster?
Thanks in advance
The EA says "Oh yes, you will have vacant possession and it's easy to remove the HMO status, you just have to visit the council offices"
Now, I know from past experience the EA would probably say what I want to hear, just to make his sale.
Could the council refuse to remove the HMO status and can I believe the EA that it will be empty when I move in or is it all just a recipe for disaster?
Thanks in advance
I must remember that "Money Saving" is not buying heavily discounted items that I do not need. :hello:
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Comments
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All the obligations are on the seller not the buyer. To fulfill the contract (and get your money) the seller has to provide vacant possession.I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.0
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your solicitor will make sure its empty before you sign anything"Do not regret growing older, it's a privilege denied to many"0
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As long as it's empty there won't be a problem.
You can turn a HMO back into a house (assuming it had planning in the first place) but you need permission to turn a house into a HMO.0 -
You need to be very careful and speak to the lender (or have your broker do it) before you apply.
Some lenders are going to have issues with locks on doors and potentially the layout etc, ensure you do your research - take down names/and times of when you called and who you spoke to.I am a Mortgage AdviserYou should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.0 -
Your problem is not with getting the HMO status removal with the council.
It is with the tenants. It could take months (and then more months) before they all leave. Yes, that is the seller's problem - he must evict before Exchange, but
a) you might end up with long delays (and your mortgage offer might expire and
b) you will have to check yourself that they've all left (or pay your solicitor about £300 per hour plus expenses to do a site visit!)0
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