Houses in Multiple Occupation
Houses that are in multiple occupation (
HMOs
) are defined as houses
that are not occupied by a single household. They can take a
number of forms and have been categorised as follows:
Category A:
These are houses occupied as individual rooms, bedsits and
flatlets where rooms are exclusively occupied and there is usually
some sharing of amenities such as a bathroom and/or toilet and
maybe a kitchen.
Category B:
These are houses occupied on a shared basis where certain
activities are undertaken as a single household but for others they
are not. Usually the house is let to a defined group such as
students.
Category C:
These are houses where a resident landlord caters for a lodger
who does not normally live as part of the main household.
Typically these are family households who take in lodgers who are
away from their primary place of residence for an extended
period.
Category D:
These are houses known as "Hostels", "Guesthouses" and "Bed
and Breakfast establishments" where residents have no other
permanent place of residence as distinct from accommodation
provided for visitors to the area. Typically used to
accommodate homeless families on a short term basis where some
meals are provided as part of the rent.
Category E:
These are houses registered under the Care Standards Act 2000
that provide board and personal care for vulnerable people such as
older people, people with disabilities, drug dependency or learning
difficulties.
Category F:
These are houses converted into self-contained flats accessed
through one door off a common area.
HMOs are not occupied in the same manner as a house occupied
by a single family and there is often a need for the provision of
additional bathroom and kitchen facilities. In addition,
HMOs
have proved
to be at greater risk from damage by fire and for this reason
additional fire precautions such as fire doors and smoke alarms are
normally fitted tp protect people living there.
The Council has adopted a set of standards with which all
HMOs
must
comply. If you are a landlord with a HMO or are a tenant
living in a HMO you should contact the Council to ensure that the
property meets the required standards. Landlords with
HMOs
that do not
meet the standards usually qualify for financial and or other
assistance.
From 6 April 2006 all
HMOs
of 3 storeys or more,
that are occupied by 5 people or more must be licenced with the
Council. Landlords who fail to licence their HMOs could
forfeit the rent they receive and be fined up to
£20,000.
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Page Last Updated: 3/30/2006
Eastleigh Borough Council
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Eastleigh Borough Council, Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9YN
Telephone:023 8068 8068; Fax:023 8068 8257; Text:07797 877001
Email:
direct@eastleigh.gov.uk