If you live in:
- a privately-owned shared flat
- a building converted into flats or bedsits
- a shared house
- a room in a house with five or more unrelated people sharing a toilet, bathroom or kitchen
then your landlord must have an House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence. There are certain exemptions to these rules; if in doubt seek advice.
The Council publishes a register of licenced HMOs in the district.
Licences ensure that landlords meet basic standards, by ensuring:
- your home is not managed or run by any person or organisation with certain criminal convictions or landlord sanctions
- your bedroom is a reasonable size
- your home has enough bathrooms and kitchen facilities
- your home is managed properly, e.g. maintained, common parts are kept clean, waste removal arrangements
- your home has fire safety precautions
- you have a written tenancy agreement.
There are consequences for your landlord should they not have any required licence. You could apply for up to one year’s rent to be returned to you by the landlord through a Rent Repayment Order.
The council can offer advice on this and some private companies and charities that will assist tenants too (some may charge a fee for doing so).