Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation
Landlords are reminded that the deadline is now looming for applications for House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licences.
As mentioned in the article in March, under new Government rules landlords and letting agents have to apply for an HMO licence for most properties in which five or more people from two or more unrelated families live. Those failing to have done so by October 1 2018 will be committing a criminal offence.
Landlords and agents who do not licence a licensable HMO risk being prosecuted or could face a civil penalty of up to £30,000 for each offence as well as a potential rent repayment order for up to one year's rent. In addition they could also be added to a national database of rogue landlords and property agents and even receive an order banning them from letting out a house in England or engaging in property management work.
As part of the new measures, the Government is introducing national minimum room sizes for rooms used for sleeping and mandatory HMO licence conditions relating to refuse storage and disposal.
Mandatory HMO licensing is being extended because of concerns about the number of HMOs operated by landlords who rent out sub-standard, overcrowded and dangerous accommodation, exploit vulnerable tenants and in some cases defraud the public purse.
Government guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-publishes-key-licensing-changes-to-further-protect-tenants
To find out more details of how to apply, visit the website of the council where the property is located.
