On 18 October 2016 the government launched a consultation on proposals to extend the scope of mandatory licensing for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and impose a national minimum room size for HMOs.
It seems likely therefore that the government’s intention is to:-
- Require all houses (regardless of how many floors) occupied by 5 or more people from two or more households to be licensed and extend mandatory licensing to flats above and below business premises (once again regardless of the number of storeys);
- Introduce compulsory minimum sizes for rooms used as sleeping accommodation in licensable HMOs;
- Require the license holder to make adequate provision for the storage and disposal for normal household waste;
- Enhance the ‘fit and proper person’ test for landlords and ensure that criminal records checks are carried out; and
- Consider whether the current licensing arrangements for purpose built student accommodation are appropriate.
It should be noted that those proposals relate to England only.
The consultation is to last for 8 weeks from 18 October 2016 and thereafter it is a reasonable bet that the proposals are likely to be carried into law although the timescale on that is uncertain.
For further information and advice and assistance about any aspect of houses in multiple occupation please contact Nick Lambert on 0114 266 6660 or by email [email protected]
