The Landlords Union “Press Liaison” Questions HMO Minimum Room Size Impact Assessment

The Landlords Union “Press Liaison” Questions HMO Minimum Room Size Impact Assessment

11:49 AM, 8th May 2018, About 7 years ago 109

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We were recently approached by a landlord of a four bedroom HMO property whose Local Authority had contacted her to remind of the approaching restrictions on minimum room sizes. One of this landlords bedrooms was slightly below the 6.51 sq metre limitation, which becomes effective from 1st October under  ‘ The Licensing of Homes in Multiple Occupation ( Mandatory Conditions of Licensing ) Regulations, 2018.

The landlord’s options are quite limited. She will have to serve a Section 21 Notice on the tenant of the smaller bedroom, who, hitherto, has been content with this accommodation for the level of rent paid. Its worth pointing out that so too were the Local Authority, as there is ample residual living space in the rest of the property.

Also, and as a consequence, the rent for the remaining three tenants will have to increase to the maximum that the market rate can bear. This will be more than currently payable, but no doubt still at some loss to the landlord.

Interestingly, there is a detailed 22 page Impact Assessment published by MHCLG, albeit omitting the number of units of accommodation that are foreseen to be lost by this legislation, the amount of rental increase other tenants in the property will incur and the resultant financial loss to landlords from rent not recoverable.

We have written to Cynthia Brathwaite , the author of the Impact Assessment to ask:-

  1. How many units of accommodation are expected to be lost, and
  2. What impact the reduction in units of accommodation will have financially on landlord and tenants?

Unbelievably, the Impact Assessment Report makes no reference to these fundamental issues!

It is suspected the reasons these factors are not covered is because the government believe, naively, that Landlords will just downsize without financial compensation and suffer the loss of rent ‘on the chin’ together with the license fee.

[ The above links to another piece of work about the causes of rent increases, soon to be published. Watch this space! ]

Whilst we are waiting for a response to the fundamental questions raised, it would be useful if members have any similar experiences that publicise in regards to “true consequences”. Please post comments below or email Press@Property118.com


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Paul Maguire

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21:34 PM, 12th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Having started off by assuming England had the same rules as Scotland regarding room sizes since 2000, I presumed the complainants had been flouting regulations and had now been caught out. I stand corrected. However, going to the extreme end of the scale, I think the points raised here would also apply to "slum landlords". Having said that [and braced for flack], I do think that slum landlords do a helluva lot more to alleviate homelessness than either the councils or Shelter. Note the "extreme end of the scale" which means that I am in no way inferring that tiny bedrooms discussed here infers any association with slum landlords' practices. I still think that Marek made a valid point.

Appalled Landlord

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22:25 PM, 12th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by marek at 12/05/2018 - 21:14
Yes, the rest of the world drives on the right - with the tiny exceptions of India, Pakistan, Japan, South Africa, Kenya, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, etcetera, etcetera, and just across the border from Angola where the roads are better than in Notting Hill, Zambia.

I’m surprised a well-travelled, award-winning architect didn’t know that

Clint

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22:28 PM, 12th May 2018, About 7 years ago

I believe the best solution to housing would be for the government to scrap all the taxes and regulations introduced in the last three years and concentrate on building more houses rather than reduce the number of homes. Landlords would then be left to continue investing in housing which is what is required to solve the housing problem and ultimately, rents would be at levels where tenants can live comfortably, and house builders would build more houses.
When we reach a level where everyone can be housed as a basic human right, only then the room sizes should be enforced and only to tenants that are moving to other properties.
In building new houses almost immediately, minimum sizes should be enforced in order to meet the space standards where owner occupiers would have the same benefits as those renting.
In respect of scum landlords, the environmental heath department already had sufficient powers to sort them out and licensing does not help in any additional way from what I have seen from the borough my properties are in. It is just another indirect tax.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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22:36 PM, 12th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Appalled Landlord at 12/05/2018 - 22:25
You missed Malta and Cyprus

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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22:39 PM, 12th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Clint at 12/05/2018 - 22:28
Spot on Clint, and when there are enough properties to give people real choices the bad landlords and bad properties will have no tenants, so no need for any regulation.

marek

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22:52 PM, 12th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Appalled Landlord at 12/05/2018 - 22:25
Know it perfectly well. In fact did a study on the subject.
The point was introducing a drastic change.
Either prevarication and inaction, or the Swedish way, and in fact letting people get on with it.
The rest of Europe - happier ?

Appalled Landlord

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23:43 PM, 12th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander at 12/05/2018 - 22:36
Because I used the word tiny ironically, I had to leave islands out. No offence.

Appalled Landlord

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23:50 PM, 12th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by marek at 12/05/2018 - 22:52
I have assessed my emotions and find them unchanged by your correction.
If you write something that is obviously wrong you lose credibility. If you then say you knew it was wrong you sacrifice integrity.

terry sullivan

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11:03 AM, 4th June 2018, About 7 years ago

i may wish to buildReply to the comment left by marek at 12/05/2018 - 14:06can you supply plans for those 2 properties

terry sullivan

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11:05 AM, 4th June 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Clint at 12/05/2018 - 22:28
better to remove all illegals--about 20 million

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