|
|
Question Title: HMO - four or five people ?
| Question: 387 |
| I am concerned about the new HMO legislation. I currently rent out an elegant three-storey Victorian property in Brighton to five students. Although I have installed fire extinguishers, fire blankets and smoke detectors, other landlords in the area have informed me that the local authority are likely to demand further improvement works (including replacing the old Victorian doors with modern fire doors) at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds before granting a licence. For many reasons, apart from just cost, I do not want to ruin some of the features of this fine building. Can I avoid licensing by renting to only four ?
|
| Answer: |
| Yes, this might be the only solution to avoid HMO licensing given the current guidelines. But even with just four unrelated people, your building will still classify as an 'HMO' and this will bring extra responsibilities.
|
|
References:
|
Pages:
|
Hyperlinks:
|
|
Letting Handbook |
Chapter 16 |
letting-handbook-and-factsheets.html
|
|
Letting Factsheet No 40 |
|
factsheet-40
|
For more information, discuss on the Forum
|
|
Houses in Multiple Occupation