Houses in Multiple Occupation

COVID-19 Private Sector Housing:

The government has brought forward a package of measures to protect renters affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). With these in force, no renter in either social or private accommodation will be forced out of their home.

Government advice for landlords and renters reflecting the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Houses in Multiple Occupation

A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a building or part of a building that is occupied by three or more people forming two or more households. Occupants of HMOs typically share one or more amenities (i.e. toilet, bath and shower room, or kitchen). Certain converted blocks of flats also fall within the HMO definition section 257 HMOs.

It is recognised that properties used as HMOs generally present an increased risk to occupiers than properties that are occupied by single families. An HMO is often occupied by a larger number of people than a single-family home. Poorly managed and badly maintained HMO accommodation can place an increased burden on local services and can have a detrimental impact on the wider neighbourhood. This means that there are a number of additional considerations that apply to the management, maintenance and construction of HMOs:

• Property licensing – most houses/flats which are occupied by 3 or more individuals forming two or more households who share one or more basic amenities will require either a mandatory HMO licence or an additional (HMO) licence. HMO licensing was introduced to give local authorities the power to regulate standards and conditions in multiply occupied residential premises. Through the property licence process, the Council will ensure that an HMO has sufficient kitchens, baths/showers and WCs. It also places a limit on the number of people permitted to occupy it.
• HMO property standards – there are additional HMO property standards which apply to HMOs and buildings containing flats
• Planning permission – in Waltham Forest, an HMO is required to have planning permission that is appropriate to its use, or it is able to demonstrate that the property has established HMO use.
• Fire safety – most HMOs, including buildings converted into flats, are required to have a higher standard of fire safety in terms of structural fire precautions (fire doors etc) and automatic detection and warning systems (smoke detectors etc). Please refer to the Lacors Fire & Safety guide for more information.
• Management standards - the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 applies to most HMO properties. It places additional duties on the manager of the property to maintain facilities and services and to undertake other measures to ensure that the occupiers are able to reside in safe accommodation. Similar requirements apply to certain converted blocks of flats ‘Section 257 HMOs’ through regulations dating from 2007.