Does your property need an HMO license? 📑

As a landlord, you should be aware of the changes that were put into action back in October 2018 across the UK. New regulations mean that there is now a mandatory license required for houses of multiple occupation (5 tenants +)

The evident change has been that this license is required when a property has 5 or more tenants, forming two or more separate households.

Some key things to know:

• If you already have the existing HMO licence, this is still valid five years from the date it was issued.
• If you own a property that now fits the terms to require an HMO you need to apply for one with your local council.
• Rooms under 4.64sqm cannot be used for sleeping. Floor area under a height standard of 1.5m is not included in the calculation.
• The proposals will prohibit landlords from letting rooms to a single adult where the usable floor space is less than 6.51sqm and 10.22sqm for a room occupied by two adults.

In breach of the license:

• The big news is that landlords whose properties fall below the living standards for tenants will no longer be able to let out rooms.
• Landlords will also need to comply with the local council’s HMO licensing standards, which may involve making changes to comply with minimum room sizes, amenity standards (kitchen facilities, number of bathrooms etc.)

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