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Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation

The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 apply to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO's) except section 257 HMO's.  A section 257 HMO is defined as a converted building consisting entirely of self-contained flats, where the building work undertaken in connection with the conversion did not comply with the 1991 Building Regulations, and less than 2/3rds of the flats are owner occupied.

The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 impose duties on managers (with some requirements on occupiers) to ensure that good conditions are maintained and include the following:-

• Providing information to occupiers including the requirement for the manager's name, address and any telephone contact number clearly displayed in a prominent position in the HMO (Regulation 3);
• Taking safety measures, including fire safety measures (Regulation 4);
• Maintaining the water supply and drainage (Regulation 5);
• Supplying and maintaining gas and electricity, including having it regularly inspected.  This includes a requirement that every fixed electrical installation is inspected and tested at intervals not exceeding five years by a person qualified to undertake such inspection and testing (Regulation 6);
• Maintaining common parts (defined in Regulation 7(6)), fixtures, fittings and appliances (Regulation 7);
• Maintaining living accommodation (Regulation 8) and
• Providing waste disposal facilities (Regulation 9)
• Regulation 10 imposes duties on occupiers of an HMO for the purpose of ensuring that the person managing it can effectively carry out the duties imposed on them by these Regulations.

A copy of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 can be viewed at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/372/contents/made.