If you have any questions about HMO rules, please contact us for advice.
A House in Multiple Occupation, commonly known as an HMO property, is a unique type of rental property where three or more unrelated individuals live together, sharing various facilities like a kitchen, bathroom, or living room.
HMOs come in different forms, including:
It’s important to know that there are specific regulations and licensing requirements to maintain your safety, well-being and living standards. HMO landlords typically have additional responsibilities like:
Under the Housing Act 2004 in England, larger HMOs that meet certain criteria must be licensed by the Local Authority. In short, if a property has three or more storeys and is occupied by five or more people forming at least two separate households, the property must be licenced.
However, since 1 October 2018, mandatory licensing of HMOs has been extended to include smaller properties used as HMOs in England, housing five or more people in two or more separate households. This extension aims to enhance safety and living conditions for tenants in shared accommodations.
Additionally, new mandatory conditions have been introduced in HMO licences. These conditions include setting minimum room sizes for sleeping accommodation and requiring landlords to comply with local council refuse schemes.
If a landlord fails to apply for a licence or allows a property to be occupied by more people than are permitted under the licence, a fine of up to £20,000 may be imposed. In addition, breaking any of the licence conditions can result in fines of up to £5,000.
On top of your non-HMO tenant responsibilities, you must also check if your landlord has the correct licence. You can do so by contacting your local council, or if you are unsure, you can contact us at Safe Suffolk Renters.
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