Important Changes to the Law for Houses of Multiple Occupancy
Regulations relating to the licensing of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) have changed and landlords of such properties must apply for their new license now, if they haven’t already done so.
On 1 October 2018 the new license came into being stating that the previous ‘storey-height’ criteria had been removed. This means any HMO that is occupied by five or more people who form two or more separate households, and who share basic amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, now require a license. This is regardless of the number of storeys the property has. These properties must have a licence to operate.
The deadline for mandatory licensing passed on 1 October 2018 and Landlords who do not already have a current licence or have an application submitted with the Council are committing an offence. As a result, the Council may take more formal action which could result in prosecution or issue of a civil penalty notice. We encourage landlords to submit an application by 31 January 2019 to ensure that they meet this legal requirement. Any unlicensed properties found to be operating after this date will be subject to enforcement action.
To apply for a license, landlords will need to complete an HMO application form which can be found on the Arun District Council’s website www.arun.gov.uk/hmo. The website also includes information about the fees that are applicable, depending on the type and size of property and the minimum standards that the property is required to meet in regards to room sizes, facilities and other safety measures.
For further information please visit the Council’s website or email publichealth.housing@arun.gov.uk