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What is a House in Multiple Occupation?
A House in Multiple Occupation is a building,
or part of a building occupied by three or more people made up of more than one household. There are several different types,
such as:
- a shared house;
- a building split into bedsits or converted into self contained flats;
- a hostel;
- bed and breakfast accommodation; and
- many types of student accommodation.
As there are so many different types, there are a variety of different requirements for room sizes, kitchen and bathroom
facilites and fire precautions. If you want to check on what facilites are required for any particular type of house in multiple
occupation please contact us using the details below.
Which houses in multiple occupation need to be licensed?
If you rent a property with any of the below you will need a licence by law:
- three or more storeys;
- with five or more people;
- made up of two or more households; and
- with some shared facilities such as kitchen or bathroom.
You need a licence for every qualifying property. If you don't apply for one you could be fined up to £20,000.
Also, breach of your licence conditions could result in a fine of up to £5,000. Additionally, tenants' rents or housing
benefit can be reclaimed for the period a property was not, but ought to have been, licensed.
We have written
a detailed licensing guide in partnership with neighbouring Staffordshire authorities for you to download. Please see the
related links from this page.
Your licences will last for a maximim of five years and you cannot transfer them.
Further details on fees, guidance on filling in the form, the licensing guide and the application form are all available to
download from this page.
At present we are only introducing the mandatory licensing for the types of houses listed
about but we may bring in discretionary additional licensing for other types of housing and some licences for rented properties
in the future. From this page is a list of documents relating to Houses in Multiple Occupation Standards.
Contact
details
Housing Standards Team
Housing Environmental and Neighbourhood Services
PO Box 634
Civic Centre, Glebe Street
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 1RJ
Telephone 01782 232087
Fax 01782 232217
e-mail housing.standards@stoke.gov.uk
web www.landlordaccreditation.co.uk
Or go to www.homestamp.com for more information and to download their free fire
safety guide.