The Housing Standards Team offers advice and guidance on
the standards acceptable in privately rented properties including
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). We can assist with issues
including disrepair, fire safety, management of properties, gas and
electrical safety and overcrowding. We provide inspection services
and enforcement of the regulations.
What is a House in Multiple Occupation?
Definition
Under the
Housing Act 2004, if you let a property which is one of the
following types it is a House in Multiple Occupation:
An entire house or flat which is let to 3 or more tenants
who form 2 or more households and who share a kitchen,
bathroom or toilet.
A house which has been converted entirely into bedsits or other
non-self-contained accommodation and which is let to 3 or more
tenants who form two or more households and who share kitchen,
bathroom or toilet facilities.
A converted house which contains one or more flats which are not
wholly self contained (ie the flat does not contain within it
a kitchen, bathroom and toilet) and which is occupied by 3 or
more tenants who form two or more households.
A building which is converted entirely into self-contained
flats and the conversion does not meet the standards of the
1991 Building Regulations and more than one-third of the flats are
let on short-term tenancies
In order to be an HMO the property must be used as the tenants’
only or main residence and it should be used solely or mainly to
house tenants. Properties let to students and migrant workers
will be treated as their only or main residence and the same will
apply to properties which are used as domestic refuges.
Houses in Multiple Occupation in Bath and North East
Somerset
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) provide essential
accommodation for many households in the Bath and North East
Somerset district. A high proportion of these properties have
little or no adequate fire precautions.
The risk of being killed or injured by a fire has been estimated
ten times more likely in a HMO than in a house occupied by a single
household. It is a high priority for the Council to improve this
situation.
The Housing Standards Team is actively engaged in identifying
and improving HMOs in the area. We will arrange inspections of
these properties and work in partnership with landlords to make any
improvements necessary to meet the current standards.
The team is committed to improving fire safety in privately
rented housing within the district.
Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation
Licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) has been
introduced to improve and maintain the standards and conditions
found in HMOs. Mandatory licensing applies to some of the
highest risk properties, which house some of the most vulnerable
people.
HMOs which require a licence will be properties of three or more
storeys and that are occupied by 5 or more people living as two or
more households. Further information about licensing can be
found on the mandatory licensing page and on the following
websites http://www.landlordinfo.co.uk/ Communities and Local Government website
Standards for houses in multiple occupation
The property must meet the general standards applicable to all
rented properties. This is known as the “Housing Health and Safety
Rating System” and the property must be free from serious
hazards. Further information on these standards are avaliable
on the housing
conditions web page.
Extra requirements
for fire precautions and means of escape in case of fire are
applicable for HMOs and are in addition to the general standards
for residential premises.
The additional
requirements relating to HMOs aim to protect the health and safety
of occupants and to prevent serious discomfort. They ensure the
building is reasonably suitable for occupation by the number of
occupants.
Fire safety
The occupants must have a safe means of escape from the building
in the event of a fire. This will require fire detection equipment
and some strucutural works. The requirements differ based on the
number of occupants, the number of storeys in the property and the
layout of the accommodation. Please contact the Housing Standards
Team for further details.
Facilities
There must be
adequate bathroom, toilet and kitchen facilities provided within
HMOs based on the number of tenants and the location of the
facilities in the building. Please contact the Housing
Standards Team for further details.
Management
There is also a duty under the Housing (Management of Houses in
Multiple Occupation) Regulations 2006 on the landlord or
person in control of the HMO to ensure the maintenance, good order
and repair of the following:
- Water supply and drainage in the house.
- Gas and electricity supply
- Shared areas of the house and installations.
- Living accommodation.
- Windows and ventilation.
- Means of escape from fire and other fire precautions.
- Shared outbuildings and yards.
The manager must also:
- Make suitable arrangements for disposal of refuse from the
house;
- Take reasonable precautions for the general safety of the
residents;
- Display a notice in the house indicating their name, address
and phone number;
- Give the local authority information about who lives in the
house if requested.
Please contact the
Housing Standards Team for further information regarding the
management of HMOs.
Enforcement Policy
The Housing Services enforcement policy provides information on
how housing legislation is enforced by the Council and the
standards of service that you can expect from us. For further
please refer to the
Enforcement Policy.
To read our Housing Services Customer Service Standards
please see
Customer Service Standards.
Link to Landlord Manual
Contacting us at
Housing Standards
Team,
Bath and North
East Somerset Council,
Adult Social
Services and Housing,
PO Box 3343
Bath BA1 2ZH
Tel: 01225
396269
Fax: 01225
477839
E-mail:
housing_regeneration@bathnes.gov.uk
Further Information
We produce a number of leaflets and guidance relating to housing
standards for tenants and landlords.
