Housing standards for HMO

A guide to HMO property standards from Finance4

Whilst the following pages are taken from an HMO property guide put together by an individual Borough Council, similar rules/guidance is likely to apply throughout England and Wales. For specific advice on your particular HMO property you shoul contact your local Borough Council. For advice on what may required by HMO mortgage lenders, please call Finance4 on 0800 019 9605

As part of a wider strategy, Local Authority Housing Services aims for houses in multiple occupancy  or HMO's are:

To maintain and improve the fabric of multiple occupancy dwellings in the private sector as part of a National and Borough resource.

To maintain and improve the health of people living in houses of multiple occupancy and ensure that their homes are safe, fit and meet the legislative standards.

This advice is written for landlords who own or manage house(s) in multiple occupation (HMO's). A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is any house or flat which is occupied by more than one household who share (or do not have) kitchen, bathroom or toilet facilities. If these facilities are for exclusive use but are not self- contained within the living accommodation, the property will still count as an HMO.

HMO's include bedsits, some shared houses, hostels and houses converted into flats. A household means members of the same family and includes co-habiting couples.

Self contained flats in converted buildings may also be HMO's if they were converted before 1991 and at least one third of the flats are occupied under short tenancies.

With respect to HMO's, the aim is to ensure that all HMO's are safe and fit to live in. This means that HMO's must be kept clean and in good repair, well-maintained with adequate amenities (kitchens, toilets, washing facilities etc) and proper fire precautions.

HOUSING STANDARDS FOR HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION

For specific advice on your particular HMO property you shoul contact your local Borough Council. For advice on what may required by HMO mortgage lenders, please call Finance4 on 0800 019 9605

In each case what is required depends on the number of people and households living there and on the type of premises. In all cases the responsibility for maintaining the property rests with the owner or manager of the premises.

There are six categories of houses in multiple occupation shown below.

Categories of Houses in Multiple Occupation:

A) Houses occupied as individual rooms with some sharing of bathroom, toilet and/or kitchen

B) Houses occupied by a defined group of people, who generally live independently of one another. They may have exclusive use of a bedroom, but, for example, cook, eat, shop and clean separately

C) Houses with some sharing and occupied by people whose accommodation is linked to their employment or education

D) Houses generally referred to as Hotels, Guesthouses and Bed & Breakfasts providing permanent places of residence, including provision for homeless families

E) Houses which require registration under the Registered Homes Act usually for people with special needs

F) Self contained homes with their own entrance leading from a common area or hallway, with no sharing of rooms

For specific advice on your particular HMO property you shoul contact your local Borough Council. For advice on what may required by HMO mortgage lenders, please call Finance4 on 0800 019 9605

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