New rules have come into force that require properties housing five or more people from two or more households to be have special licenses. Until October 1, only properties with three or more floors needed a Houses in Multiple Occuptation (HMO) licence. But new legislation, first announced last December, has changed the laws and also updated minimum space requirements. Minimum bedroom space is now 6.51 square metres for a single bedroom and 10.22 square metres for rooms occupied by two adults. Rooms housing children aged ten or below will need to be a minimum size of 4.64 square metres. As part of the new rules, landlords will also be required to provide an adequate number of bins for their properties. The cost of HMO licences varies depending on the local authority, with some charging a few hundred pounds and others charging in excess of £1,000. An HMO licence is valid for five years and landlords need a separate licence for each HMO they let. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said that the new rules are being introduced “to minimise rogue landlords taking advantage of increased demand for HMOs”. Fines for non-compliance with HMO licensing rules are unlimited, while failure to comply with minimum bedroom sizes could see a landlord fined up to £30,000.
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