Minimum bedroom size - social housing

gettingready

I could not find a section to post this in - hopefully someone on here may be able to help?

I know there are rules about minimum bedroom sizes in HMO but I can not find anything to challenge the classification of my HA rented flat from a 2 bedroom to one bedroom.

It is nothing to do with "bedroom tax" as I do not claim any benefits, purely about the size of the room.

The rules apply to bedrooms in houses of multiple occupation, where a bedroom used by one adult must be no smaller than 6.51 square metres, or 70 square feet.

The room I question being classified as a bedroom is under 6 square metres AND has very awkward big window with sticking out windowsill, radiator, door in a weird position AND boxed up pipes - all of which further reduces any usable space. In addition, one of the walls is a partition wall between hallway and the "bedroom", thin like a cardboard.

I want to challenge the HA I am renting from about this flat being classified as a 2 bedroom flat and change it to one bedroom as it really is.

Any advise on how could I go about that please?

Again, this is nothing to do with any "bedroom tax" or overcrowding or anything benefits related. I do not claim any benefits.

Room is way too small to be classified as a bedroom but I have no idea how to challenge that with the HA?

Many thanks if anyone can help/advise?

babyblade41

Is it just you who lives in it?

Kentish_Dave

If you are not happy would it not make sense to free the flat for someone who’d better appreciate it and rent somewhere privately that you really like?

Murphybear

Why do you want to challenge it? If it is not benefit related then are you looking to get the rent lowered?

If not, I’m not clear what difference it makes

unforeseen

There are rules for HMOs because it is a living space, not just a bedroom.

How big is this room? Can you get a single bed in there and still open/Close the door?

gettingready

If anyone can answer my question that will be great.
Unhelpful,nasty comments - no idea what for but I know how to scroll past those.

M_Python

unforeseen wrote: »

There are rules for HMOs because it is a living space, not just a bedroom.

How big is this room? Can you get a single bed in there and still open/Close the door?

What is the answer to the above question?

Slithery

gettingready wrote: »

I want to challenge the HA I am renting from about this flat being classified as a 2 bedroom flat and change it to one bedroom as it really is.

Why? What are you hoping to achieve by doing this?

gettingready

I already said, the room is below the recommended minimum bedroom size, it is under 6 metres square with awkwardly positioned window and door plus some boxed pipes and that minimises usable space even further.

I also said what I wanted to achieve - reclassifying the flat from 2 to 1 bedroom.

Bedroom classification is not about just squeezing a single bed in.

Please - I have no time for pointless discussions. I am looking for an answer to my question.

If someone does not know the answer - why do you bother commenting here?

theartfullodger

Slithery wrote: »

Why? What are you hoping to achieve by doing this?

Suspect the rent is tied to number of bedrooms.

The answer to room sizes is in s326 of Housing Act 1985... see
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/68/section/326

Floor area of room ........................Number of persons
110 sq. ft. or more .................................2
90 sq. ft. or more but less than 110 sq.ft. 1½
70 sq. ft. or more but less than 90 sq. ft. 1
50 sq. ft. or more but less than 70 sq. ft. ½...

But easier to read at the experts Shelter, see
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/check_if_your_home_is_overcrowded_by_law

Check if your home is overcrowded by law

Find out if your home is illegally overcrowded, also known as statutory overcrowding.

Floor space in sq ft ..........sq mtrs ...Maximum number of people allowed

50 - 69 ..........................4.6 - 6.4 ................ 0.5

70 - 89 ..........................6.5 - 8.3 .................1

90 - 109 ........................8.4 - 10.1 ...............1.5

110 ...............................10.2 .......................2

-these apply everywhere - owner occupiers, rented, council rented, etc etc..

But so many builders, smug-middle-class-twits-banging-on-about-house-prices, estate agents, letting agents, landlords seem unaware of them. Funny that!

Half a person? A child over 1 but under 10.

Occupier and/or landlord and/or owner may be fined for breaching this law: Sadly afaik almost never done

Gettingready: Assuming nobody sleeps in the room, why not rent it to a lodger? Help the housing crisis & make money!

NB It is also legal to sleep in a sitting room and sometimes a large kitchen.


NNB If any of this are Unhelpful,nasty comments, best wishes to all & cheers!

M_Python

gettingready wrote: »

I already said, the room is below the recommended minimum bedroom size, it is under 6 metres square with awkwardly positioned window and door plus some boxed pipes and that minimises usable space even further.

I also said what I wanted to achieve - reclassifying the flat from 2 to 1 bedroom.

Bedroom classification is not about just squeezing a single bed in.

Please - I have no time for pointless discussions. I am looking for an answer to my question.

If someone does not know the answer - why do you bother commenting here?

What makes you think that posters have time to waste on people who are not prepared to give relevant information in order to give you the answer you're looking for?

With your attitude, I doubt that anyone who knows the answer will now be prepared to share it with you.