Guidance published for housing authorities on extended mandatory HMO licensing

The Government has published new guidance for local housing authorities on extending mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also announced a review examining how selective licensing is used and how well it is working. A report will be published in spring 2019.

Following legislation introduced last month, from 1 October 2018 any landlord who lets a property to five or more people – from two or more separate households – must be licensed by their local housing authority.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the move would affect around 160,000 HMOs, and allow councils to “take further action to crack down on the small minority of landlords renting out sub-standard and overcrowded homes”.

New rules will come into force setting minimum size requirements for bedrooms in HMOs to prevent overcrowding.

Landlords will also be required to adhere to council refuse schemes, to reduce problems with rubbish, the Ministry added.

Housing Minister Heather Wheeler MP said: “Everyone deserves a decent and safe place to live. This new guidance for landlords will further protect private renters against bad and overcrowded conditions and poor management practice.”

The guidance, Houses in multiple occupation and residential property licensing reform: guidance for local housing authorities, can be viewed here.