My flat requires an HMO certificate.

blackbirdxx

I live on the ground floor of an Edwardian house in the LB Haringey which has been converted into 2 flats. Both flats are leasehold and were converted pre 1991. I am being told by the freeholder that both flats require HMO licences and have invoiced us £800 for each flat with a deadline to pay. Can someone please confirm to me that an HMO licence is required as this is just another expense I could well do without.

Many thanks in advance….

elsien

are they both completely self-contained with their own separate entrance and no shared facilities?

How many people/households are living in your flat?

I presume you’ve checked Harringay’s website directly for the HMO license page?

Ratkin007

Looks like it is a Housing Act 2004 section 257 HMO.

• buildings converted into self-contained flats where the works of conversion do not comply with the Building Regulations 1991 or subsequent regulations in force at the time of conversion (or which have not been retrospectively upgraded to comply) and where less than two-thirds of the flats are owner-occupied. These HMOs are commonly referred to as 'section 257 HMOs' 

https://haringey.gov.uk/housing/private-sector-renting/property-licensing/house-multiple-occupation-hmo-licensing

theartfullodger

Think these require S257 HMO licences.

Surprising how many people/owners are unaware of this….

See

https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/housing_conditions/hmo_standards/house_in_multiple_occupation_hmo_definition#converted-houses--section-257-hmos

blackbirdxx

Many thanks guys

eddddy

I guess the other aspect of your question is whether the £800 per flat ( total £1600) being demanded is reasonable.

You can ask the freeholder for a breakdown of the charges.

A quick glance at Haringey's website suggests that the HMO licence fee is £1360.

https://haringey.gov.uk/housing/private-sector-renting/property-licensing/house-multiple-occupation-hmo-licensing/hmo-licensing-fees-licence-periods

Maybe the freeholder will say that the remaining £240 is a charge for the work involved. If so, it's up to you to decide whether you think that's reasonable or whether you want to challenge it.

I guess the sort of things you might want to think about include:

• Does the freeholder charge you a yearly management fee for managing the property? If so, why isn't the work involved in the licence application covered by that?

• If the work isn't covered by a yearly management fee, how many hours of work were required, and what hourly rate is the freeholder charging? Is the number of hours and the hourly rate reasonable?

But those are just generic examples - you need to make decisions based on your specific circumstances. Or maybe you're not sufficiently bothered, given the amounts involved.

silvercar

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81899558#Comment_81899558

If this is the reasoning, then it should only apply if one or both the flats are not owner-occupied. If you own your flat, then arguably the burden of this charge should fall on the owner of the other flat.