{"id":18035,"date":"2018-06-22T09:45:57","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T08:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.buyassociation.co.uk\/?p=18035"},"modified":"2018-06-22T09:45:57","modified_gmt":"2018-06-22T08:45:57","slug":"new-guidance-for-hmo-landlords-revealed-by-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buyassociationgroup.com\/en-gb\/2018\/06\/22\/new-guidance-for-hmo-landlords-revealed-by-government\/","title":{"rendered":"New guidance for HMO landlords revealed by government"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahead of a major overhaul that will affect owners of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) from 1 October this year, the government has published more detailed guidance which landlords should be aware of.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a bid to prevent overcrowding and ensure landlords’ properties reach minimum standards, according to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, HMOs that are rented out to tenants across the country will be subject to new rules from October<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This week, the ministry published an updated set of guidance for landlords<\/a>, and it is vital that HMO landlords who are not currently compliant take steps now to ensure that they will be by the time the new regulations<\/a> come into effect.<\/p>\n

HMOs often offer a cheaper form of accommodation for tenants due to their shared facilities, and they tend to be popular among students<\/a>, young professionals<\/a> and migrant workers looking for more affordable rent. While large HMOs (three or more storeys with five or more people making up two or more separate households) have required licences<\/a> since 2006, the new rules will remove the minimum storey size – among other new amendments detailed below.<\/p>\n

The first part of the changes – minimum room sizes<\/h4>\n

The\u00a0Mandatory Conditions Regulations 2018, which amends Schedule 4 of the Housing Act 2004<\/a>, brings in new conditions surrounding mandatory minimum sleeping room sizes.<\/p>\n

The new minimum room sizes are:<\/p>\n