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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Robert M

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11:06 AM, 10th June 2018, About 7 years ago

This thread is supposed to be about HMO minimum room sizes. If people wish to have a forum discussion about immigration, legal or illegal, surely that would be more appropriate on a new thread? If you want such a discussion, please post it as a new discussion, rather than adding it to a discussion about room sizes (or other forum discussions).

Chris @ Possession Friend

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21:36 PM, 10th June 2018, About 7 years ago

Quite Robert, looking back, it seems Jay responded to Terry but - on a different topic - taking us down this route ( a worthy 'road to travel' I'm sure, but your right, No more relevant to the topic discussion than the price of bread 😉

Jay James

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19:11 PM, 11th June 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by terry sullivan at 09/06/2018 - 17:52I'd like to respond to that Terry (eg re pop figures) but as others have said, this is not the forum for it. If such is started I will respond there.

Jay James

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19:12 PM, 11th June 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris Daniel at 09/06/2018 - 20:18
I'd like to respond to that Chris ( my views are more right wing than any existing party) but as others have said, this is not the forum for it. If such is started I will respond there.

Jay James

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19:14 PM, 11th June 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert Mellors at 10/06/2018 - 11:06
Quite right too.

Jay James

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19:16 PM, 11th June 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris Daniel at 10/06/2018 - 21:36Quite right too. Although the price of bread could be used in some sort of weak analogy about the availability of a limited range of basic needs, making it more relevant than immigration to this topic.

terry sullivan

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8:44 AM, 12th June 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul Maguire at 09/06/2018 - 23:59
one gaol in kent is 80% gimmegrants from eu and beyond. most are fighting deportation

Jay James

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20:22 PM, 12th June 2018, About 7 years ago

This forum is about the impact of room size laws and not about giving the likes of Shelter an excuse to point the finger and say "there, racist landlords, look at how they speak about minorities, many of whom rent from landlords"

Heather G.

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17:41 PM, 4th July 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by marek at 12/05/2018 - 14:06
Er, Marek, you appear to be boasting about creating a studio flat of just 10m2 which sold for £120K, do you not see the irony in the fact that if this were a room in a HMO it would only be lettable to a single adult and yet you've crammed a flat into it?

Ross Tulloch

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18:15 PM, 4th July 2018, About 7 years ago

So best not to be an HMO but a flat so more people (2) can live there not one. Great use of space. Well done

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