Q: Home of Multiple Occupation

Home of Multiple Occupation Q: Our property is a four-storey detached Victorian house, divided into four self-contained flats. The basement flat has its own entrance. The three other flats have a common entrance (the original front door of the house) and share the entrance lobby and original staircase to the upper floors. The basement flat and the first-floor flat are let to tenants. We have had a message from the owner of the basement flat questioning whether we need an HMO licence. As 50 per cent is let, would we need a full licence, or an additional licence for the common parts only? What does getting the licence entail? FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman replies: HMO Licensing is a very complicated part of housing regulations, so difficult to advise without seeing the full plans, but essentially the licensing rules have been tightened recently to prevent tenants living in unsafe homes. The local environmental health department of your council should be your first port of call urgently to ensure that if a licence is required you are able to comply. If a licence is required and you fail to act, your directors will face prosecution. Hopefully the licence process won’t be too onerous, but the council will assist through the whole process. If a licence is not required, ask the council to put this writing so you can evidence to any future enquirers. [Submitted May 2019]

Q: Home of Multiple Occupation

Home of Multiple Occupation Q: Our property is a four-storey detached Victorian house, divided into four self-contained flats. The basement flat has its own entrance. The three other flats have a common entrance (the original front door of the house) and share the entrance lobby and original staircase to the upper floors. The basement flat and the first-floor flat are let to tenants. We have had a message from the owner of the basement flat questioning whether we need an HMO licence. As 50 per cent is let, would we need a full licence, or an additional licence for the common parts only? What does getting the licence entail? FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman replies: HMO Licensing is a very complicated part of housing regulations, so difficult to advise without seeing the full plans, but essentially the licensing rules have been tightened recently to prevent tenants living in unsafe homes. The local environmental health department of your council should be your first port of call urgently to ensure that if a licence is required you are able to comply. If a licence is required and you fail to act, your directors will face prosecution. Hopefully the licence process won’t be too onerous, but the council will assist through the whole process. If a licence is not required, ask the council to put this writing so you can evidence to any future enquirers. [Submitted May 2019]

Question 1

Home of Multiple Occupation

Accepted Answer

Home of Multiple Occupation Q: Our property is a four-storey detached Victorian house, divided into four self-contained flats. The basement flat has its own entrance. The three other flats have a common entrance (the original front door of the house) and share the entrance lobby and original staircase to the upper floors. The basement flat and the first-floor flat are let to tenants. We have had a message from the owner of the basement flat questioning whether we need an HMO licence. As 50 per cent is let, would we need a full licence, or an additional licence for the common parts only? What does getting the licence entail? FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman replies: HMO Licensing is a very complicated part of housing regulations, so difficult to advise without seeing the full plans, but essentially the licensing rules have been tightened recently to prevent tenants living in unsafe homes. The local environmental health department of your council should be your first port of call urgently to ensure that if a licence is required you are able to comply. If a licence is required and you fail to act, your directors will face prosecution. Hopefully the licence process won’t be too onerous, but the council will assist through the whole process. If a licence is not required, ask the council to put this writing so you can evidence to any future enquirers. [Submitted May 2019]

Question 2

Home of Multiple Occupation

Accepted Answer

Home of Multiple Occupation Q: Our property is a four-storey detached Victorian house, divided into four self-contained flats. The basement flat has its own entrance. The three other flats have a common entrance (the original front door of the house) and share the entrance lobby and original staircase to the upper floors. The basement flat and the first-floor flat are let to tenants. We have had a message from the owner of the basement flat questioning whether we need an HMO licence. As 50 per cent is let, would we need a full licence, or an additional licence for the common parts only? What does getting the licence entail? FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman replies: HMO Licensing is a very complicated part of housing regulations, so difficult to advise without seeing the full plans, but essentially the licensing rules have been tightened recently to prevent tenants living in unsafe homes. The local environmental health department of your council should be your first port of call urgently to ensure that if a licence is required you are able to comply. If a licence is required and you fail to act, your directors will face prosecution. Hopefully the licence process won’t be too onerous, but the council will assist through the whole process. If a licence is not required, ask the council to put this writing so you can evidence to any future enquirers. [Submitted May 2019]

Home of Multiple Occupation

Search

Articles Archive