The Government has issued new policies to protect at least 850,000 people in privately rented homes from poor living conditions and overcrowding
The rules say that landlords who let out a property to five or more people – from two or more households that share facilities – must now get a license from their local housing authority to do so.
The changes will now protect thousands of people living in privately rented properties, not just those who live in properties of three or more stories who were covered by the old system.
Overall, throughout the UK, the vast majority of landlords provide decent accommodation. However, these changes have been put in place to improve the standards of privately rented homes where landlords slack in their responsibilities.
Under the new rules, all bedrooms must be at least 6.5 square metres and councils must ensure tenants have suitable space to store their rubbish outside homes.
Housing Minister Heather Wheeler MP said: “Everyone renting a home has the right to expect it is maintained to a decent standard.
“Extending licensing to 170,000 more properties will ensure people benefit from better quality accommodation across the country.”
Advice for landlords
The government has put the following points together to help landlords adjust to the changes:
- Landlords must prove to their local council that they are a ‘fit and proper’ person before getting a HMO license
- Landlords must ensure the property is in a suitable state for the amount of residents looking to live there
- Councils can decide how best to manage the HMO
- Since the start of October, all HMOs with multiple stories and five or more un-related tenants that share facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms, will require a license
- Landlords who do not have licenses for their HMO could face enforcement action
- If the HMO already has a licence under a local authority ‘additional or selective licensing’ scheme, then the landlord will not need to apply for a new licence until it expires
