Land Agent and Property Development CompanyLand Agent and Property Development CompanyLand Agent and Property Development CompanyLand Agent and Property Development Company
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About CPG
    • Our Guarantees
    • Covid-19 Policy
  • Our Services
    • Land Owners
    • Property Owners
    • Property Professionals
    • Property Consultancy
  • Acquisitions
  • Investors
    • Investing with CPG
    • Case Studies
  • CPG Blog
  • Contact Us

Are You Aware Of The New Regulations For HMO’s?

    Home Advice For Landlords Are You Aware Of The New Regulations For HMO’s?
    NextPrevious

    Are You Aware Of The New Regulations For HMO’s?

    By Harvey Raybould | Advice For Landlords | 0 comment | 13 March, 2018 | 0

    HMO Licensing ChangesLandlords have had a tough time over the last couple of years and if you are a landlord with an HMO then things could be about to get worse for you. There are new HMO regulations coming into force in 2018 and this includes a mandatory licensing scheme.

    Making Life easier for Councils

    There was an HMO Reform Consultation held designed to produce a standard that councils across the country could follow when it comes to HMO licensing. Landlords waited with nervous anticipation for the outcome of this consultation.

    What are the Components of the Mandatory Licensing?

    The new licensing rules will apply to many HMO’s up and down the country. At the moment around 60,000 HMO’s in the United Kingdom have to obtain a license. When these new rules come into force it is estimated that around 174,000 more properties will also need an HMO license.

    If an HMO property is occupied by 5 or more people, making up 2 or more households then a license will be required. Households can be defined as parents with children, partners that are married, co-habiting or have a civil partnership and even individuals.

    At the moment only three story properties require a license but under the new rules single and two storey buildings will need a license if the 5 person rule is in force. This includes properties that have had a bedsit conversion.

    Many landlords are going to have to apply for an HMO license with the new rules. There is a 6 month grace period under discussion but this is not set in stone. The bottom line is that landlords that do not hold a license when they are required to hold one could face criminal prosecution. Civil fines of £30,000 are also in the mix.

    Other Rules for HMO’s

    There are new rules concerning the size of bedrooms. If a room is less than 6.52 square metres for an individual or less than 10.23 square metres for a couple then councils will disregard these as bedrooms. If people are only staying for a short time then there will be no enforcement of this rule.

    Unlimited fines await landlords that break these rules. For landlords that rent HMO rooms to students this could be a real problem. There may be some flexibility in this rule if there is a large communal area but this is by no means certain.

    A rule on rubbish disposal is coming. Holders of HMO licenses must ensure that there is an adequate number of bins or other receptacles for storage and disposal of rubbish. You need to be smart here and work out on average how much rubbish a tenant generates each week and then provide a slightly oversized bin for each of them.

    Finally HMO landlords need to be “fit and proper” to obtain a license. If a landlord has a conviction for fraud, violence, dishonesty or sexual abuse it is very unlikely that a license could be obtained. The same goes for landlords that have broken tenant, landlord or housing laws.

    HMO landlords new regulations, licensing changes for HMOs

    Leave a Comment

    Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    NextPrevious

    Search The Blog


    Property Investment Blog

    • Advice For Landlords
    • Business Reports
    • Commercial Property
    • Decorating and Design
    • Kent County
    • Land Acquisition
    • News
    • Property Investment
    • Residential Property

    FREE Property Investment Guide


    OUR MEMBERSHIPS…

    Land Agent and Property Development

    Registered in England and Wales No: 09252187

    OUR LATEST NEWS…

    • property investment jargon

      Property Investment Jargon Explained: Full A – Z List

      Like many industries, the world of property investment is littered with jargon.

      9 April, 2021
    • Kent villages that are good for London commuters

      Kent To London: The Best Kent Commuter Towns and Villages [2021]

      I think you will agree with me when I say: London’s house

      9 April, 2021

    OUR CONTACT DETAILS…

    Creative Property Group
    Letraset Building, Wotton Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 6LN

    Phone Number
    0800 488 0027

    Email Address
    [email protected]

    Click here for our Covid-19 Policy

    © 2021 Creative Development Services Limited | Land Agent and Property Development Company | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
    • Home
    • About Us
      • About CPG
      • Our Guarantees
      • Covid-19 Policy
    • Our Services
      • Land Owners
      • Property Owners
      • Property Professionals
      • Property Consultancy
    • Acquisitions
    • Investors
      • Investing with CPG
      • Case Studies
    • CPG Blog
    • Contact Us
    Land Agent and Property Development Company

    COVID-19 Update and Cookies

    The team at Creative Property continue to work from home where possible and ensure we comply with current government and public health guidance to help keep everyone safe and well when out on site. Cookies help us to improve the service we offer you. For more info on our cookie policy please click here.