General

A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a property that is shared by three or more tenants who aren't members of the same family. HMO landlords must have a licence from the Local Council Housing Department. This ensures that the property is managed properly and meets certain safety standards. The licence will be valid for up to three years, and will then have to be renewed.

Legislation

All housing is subject to The Housing Act 2004 and this includes HMO`s. The act is enforced by the Local Housing Authority which in most cases will be the Local Council Housing Department. Also it important to understand that other pieces of fire safety legislation can be applied to HMO’s.

Fire Safety in new and altered HMO’s flats and maisonettes, is subject to the Building Regulations and the guidance for fire safety matters are dealt with by Approved Document Part B Fire Safety.

Fire safety in the common areas of HMO`s, blocks of flats or Maisonettes are controlled by Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), and this order lays down the legal requirements. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Guidance Note No. 1 will help you understand the Order.

Because the FSO applies to HMO`s the landlord will be designated as the Responsible Person under the Order and therefore that term is used in the following text.

Fire Safety Guidance for England and Wales

The most appropriate guide for the commons areas of HMO’s and blocks of flats or maisonettes is Guide 3 - Sleeping accommodation and can be downloaded at the Department of Communities and Local Government web site. This guide is for all managers and owners of premises providing sleeping accommodation. It tells you about how you might comply with fire safety law, helps you to carry out a fire risk assessment in the common areas and identify the general fire precautions you need to have in place

It has been written to provide guidance for a responsible person, to help them to carry out a fire risk assessment in less complex premises. If you read the guide and decide that you are unable to apply the guidance, then you should seek expert advice from a competent person. More complex premises will probably need to be assessed by a person who has comprehensive training or experience in fire risk assessment.

HMO Definition

Although the commons areas of blocks of flats, maisonettes and HMO`s are subject to the RR(FS)O It is important to know if your premises is an HMO because you will have additional responsibilities under the Housing Act 2004.

The Housing Act 2004 introduces a new definition of a HMO. The new definition is detailed and complex. Generally a house in multiple occupation will be a property occupied by more than one household and more than two people, and may include bed sits, shared houses and some self contained flats.

Houses fully converted into self contained flats will generally not be HMO's provided that they were converted in accordance with the 1991 Building Regulation or later.

Generally the sole use of the property must be as an HMO however it may be declared a HMO where there is significant usage.

To find out whether your property is defined as an HMO under Housing Act 2004 please check out the flow chart which should help you determine whether your property is an HMO and/or eligible for Licensing.

However the final arbiters will be the Local House Authority.

Exemptions from the HMO definition

Certain types of buildings will not be HMO's for the purpose of the Act, other than Part One (HHSRS) and are, therefore, not subject to licensing. These include,

• Buildings, or parts of buildings, occupied by no more than two households each of which comprise a single person, for example two person flat shares.
• Managed or owned by a public body, such as the police or the NHS or an LHA or a Registered Social Landlord,
• Where the residential accommodation is ancillary to the principal use of the building, for example, religious establishments, conference centres,
• Student halls of residence, where the universities are specified as exempt by order,
• Buildings regulated otherwise than under the Act, such as care homes, bail hostels, and the description of which are specified in regulations,
• Buildings entirely occupied by freeholders or long leaseholders. (But note the problem of mixed occupancy properties.)

For more details check out Schedule 14 of the Housing Act 2004.

Flow Chart

To assist you in determining if your premises is a HMO I have produced a flow chart which may be of some help. HMO Definition. You will require Adobe Reader to view it.

The five parts of the flow chart mirrow Section 254 (1) a - e of The Housing Act 2004 and is an attempt to simplify Sections 254 to 262. It should be read in conjunction with the act if you require a full understanding.

Fire Precautions

The document Guide 3 - Sleeping accommodation should provide all the information you require to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment.

A brief summary of what actions are required by the Responsible Person (RP) are;