The council is responsible for checking Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to ensure they are in a satisfactory condition and are safe. The check will also ensure they have a satisfactory means of escape from fire, have sufficient bathrooms and kitchens and have adequate space and proper management.
What is a HMO?
A house in multiple occupation is a house occupied by people who do not form a single household. Examples include:
- A house let as individual bedsitting rooms
- A group of rooms on each floor let to single occupants
- Hostels, some hotels and guesthouses
- Lodgings and shared houses
- Houses converted into self-contained flats.
- Exemptions
The following are not classed as HMOs:
- Houses or flats with only two people
- Resident landlords with two separate tenants
- Houses converted entirely into self-contained flats with building regulations approval, where at least one third are owner occupied
- Houses subject to control orders
- Registered Providers (such as housing associations)
- Houses registered under the Children Act 1989 or Registered Homes Act 1984
- Educational establishments
- Health service accommodation
- Local council owned property
What are the standards?
A HMO will have to meet the council's standards. These standards include:
- Adequate means of escape in case of fire and other fire precautions
- Adequate facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms, toilets and wash hand basins
- Requirements on the number of occupants, in respect of the number and size of rooms
- General fitness for occupation
- Management standards
- Gas safety
- Furniture fire safety
Safety inspections of multiple occupancy homes.
Fair rents inspections:
The council has no input into determining what is a fair rent for your property, other than what is a reasonable sum for housing benefit.
The government's rent officer sets the actual rent.
If you are a landlord or a tenant the following may be useful:
For further information contact:
The Rent Service
Unit E
Aviator Court
Amy Johnson Way
York
YO30 4UZ
Contact Us
For more information on HMOs please email housing@northlincs.gov.uk.
Alternatively, contact the council's housing service on 01724 297587.