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Renta a living room on the house

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  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
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    sevenhills wrote: »
    It would not pass fire regulations for a start!
    Plenty of licensed HMOs around here seem to manage it - here's an example:

    https://espc.com/property/3-south-oxford-street-edinburgheh8-9qf/927968
  • sevenhills
    sevenhills Posts: 5,886 Forumite
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    davidmcn wrote: »
    Plenty of licensed HMOs around here seem to manage it - here's an example:

    https://espc.com/property/3-south-oxford-street-edinburgheh8-9qf/927968

    The original question was about renting out a living room as a bedroom! Not about spending thousands on turning it into a HMO
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
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    sevenhills wrote: »
    The original question was about renting out a living room as a bedroom! Not about spending thousands on turning it into a HMO
    Well, in that example the living room has been turned into a bedroom. Doing so isn't necessarily going to breach fire regulations.

    (and in Scotland the OP's example would already require to be licensed as an HMO)
  • Silvertabby
    Silvertabby Posts: 9,023 Forumite
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    How many bathrooms does the house have?
  • moneyistooshorttomention
    moneyistooshorttomention Posts: 17,940 Forumite
    edited 21 April 2018 at 7:36PM
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    Cakeguts wrote: »
    You would need to check with your local council regarding their rules on HMOs.

    Good point.

    Mine had certainly started to get wise to this practice in recent years.

    I had a lodger to start with on buying my first house and there was a brief spell of a 2nd lodger as well. I could have done what I pleased and squished in a 3rd lodger if I'd tried to use the sitting room as a bedroom at the outset. I wouldnt have dreamt of it - but the Council certainly put in regulations over the years that prevented anyone doing anything like that.
  • anselld
    anselld Posts: 8,281 Forumite
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    sevenhills wrote: »
    The original question was about renting out a living room as a bedroom! Not about spending thousands on turning it into a HMO

    With three unrelated occupants it is already an HMO. With four it is still an HMO though not licensable. The fire regulations are not particularly arduous for small HMOs of this type and converting the living room is unlikely to make a material difference.
  • anselld
    anselld Posts: 8,281 Forumite
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    moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »
    Good point.

    Mine had certainly started to get wise to this practice in recent years.

    I had a lodger to start with on buying my first house and there was a brief spell of a 2nd lodger as well. I could have done what I pleased and squished in a 3rd lodger if I'd tried to use the sitting room as a bedroom at the outset. I wouldnt have dreamt of it - but the Council certainly put in regulations over the years that prevented anyone doing anything like that.

    I very much doubt they prevented it. They may have made it more difficult in practice.

    The local licensing schemes tend to specify minimum room sizes and total amount of communal amenity space and facilities.

    They do not specifically prevent conversion of a living room into a bedroom so long as the remaining communal space it sufficient to meet the demands of the specified number of occupants.
  • anselld
    anselld Posts: 8,281 Forumite
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    Silvertabby wrote: »
    How many bathrooms does the house have?

    One bathroom is sufficient for four occupants. Why is that relevant?
  • Silvertabby
    Silvertabby Posts: 9,023 Forumite
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    edited 21 April 2018 at 9:34PM
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    anselld wrote: »
    One bathroom is sufficient for four occupants. Why is that relevant?

    Not in my world it wouldn't be - but then I can't face the day without a shower. 4 people starting work at the same time and all wanting the bathroom/shower? Nightmare !!!
  • anselld
    anselld Posts: 8,281 Forumite
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    Silvertabby wrote: »
    Not in my world.

    The OP asked about the "legal side" not your world.
This discussion has been closed.
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