Houses In Multiple Occupation

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Houses In Multiple Occupation
An Overview of New Legislation

Licensing
Phil Thorneywork, Torben Wood Richard Clark
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Houses In Multiple Occupation
Housing Health Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
Risk based inspection system Set by NATIONAL
statistics
Decision to take action now decided by RISK RATING
Rating by hazard to most vulnerable occupant
29 hazards - includes slips trips, heating,
food safety, fire safety, biological chemical
hazards
HHSRS inspections are not linked to Licensing for
the first 5 years BUT, Properties should be
decent by 2010
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Houses In Multiple Occupation

• NEW 2004 Housing Act

• Different Houses Different response

Licensing of highest risk
3 storey 5
License holder is responsible
MUST be in UK
Most Suitable person
Fit Proper
Licenses for (max) 5 years fees to cover L.As
costs only
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Houses In Multiple Occupation
The details of Licensing.
The Property
3 storeys
Includes basements and attics
Includes children gt1yr
5 persons
Definition A Household MUST be related / living
together students are NOT a household
2 Households
Suitable for the numbers
5 persons 1 Bath / WC / Kitchen
If a property needs to be licensed, and is
not The person who should be the license holder
commits an offence -
upon conviction the maximum fine is 20,000
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Houses In Multiple Occupation
Exceptions to Licensing..
Lodgers
No more than 2 (must be family in residence)
Educational Establishment or Hospital / NHS
trust
Must be owned / managed by them exclusively
occupied by their students / staff
If no amenities are shared - Not Licensable
Self Contained flats
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Houses In Multiple Occupation
The License Holder
The most appropriate person
Who ACTUALLY runs the house
No unspent - fraud, housing, landlord tenant,
sex offence, discrimination convictions AND no
work in default carried out in the last 5 years
Fit Proper personwho must have Authority
to act in relation to the House
Training / ACOP / Membership
Competent to manage
If the owner is not a Fit Proper person -
they must appoint someone who is! with full
authority to act...
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Houses In Multiple Occupation
Licensing How it works
Managers must apply for a license
3 month grace period planned
Personal details recorded
Data Protection applies
Property details recorded
General details only
License Issued OR Temporary Exemption Notice
issued
If neither can be done .. The Local Authority
MUST serve a management order
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Houses In Multiple Occupation
Temporary Exemption Notices Management Orders
Issued by a local Authority, where a landlord is
in the process of ceasing HMO use
Issued for 3 months possible extension for
further 3 months
No Cost to l/lord BUT.
Maximum is 6 months.
Interim Management Order applied for
automatically after 6 months Which give FULL
control to a council to act as the Landlord,
collect rent, do repairs, issue tenancies and
CHARGE ALL COSTS TO THE LANDLORD
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Houses In Multiple Occupation
Licence Fees !
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Houses In Multiple Occupation
FEES !
Option 1 IPSWICH B.C. act for all Suffolk
Authorities
Std Applicant No problems...
9200 / unit
Form Returned / Late applicant...
Higher cost
Advantage.
Cross LA boundary ownership
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Houses In Multiple Occupation
FEES !
Option 2 Forest Heath Locally Managed Scheme
Lower per unit cost
Faster response
Discounts for members of L/Lord Assoc etc
To Be Confirmed
Quantity DiscountsOver 3 Properties.
To Be Confirmed
Maximum fee - regardless of size - per house
To Be Confirmed
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Sample Licensing forms -DO NOT USE
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Sample Licensing forms -DO NOT USE
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Sample Licensing forms -DO NOT USE
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Advantages of Licensing
Be seen as a professional
Access to discounted services
Possibility of Financial Assistance

• Easier to Licence lower cost

• HECA (Insulation grants)

• of cost for Sprinklers

Notification of any changes in the law
Enforcement directed where it is needed
Excludes the cowboys
BUTwhat if you dont have to be licensed!
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Housing.. the next steps
Be seen as a professional Access to discounted
services Possibility of grant aid Notification
of any changes in the law Enforcement directed
where it is needed Excludes the cowboys
Become a Registered Landlord !
Competent to manage
Training Offered by L.A. if Reqd ACOP - Govt
Approved Membership of L/lord Assoc.
Share best practice with colleagues in your
industry -For EVERYONES benefit
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Assistance for Landlords
The Green Landlord Scheme
The Government has also announced measures aimed
specifically at the private rented sector. In
2004, the Government introduced the
Landlords Energy Saving Allowance (LESA). The
scheme has been in place since 6 April 2004
and provides private landlords who pay
income tax with up -front relief of up to
1,500 on capital expenditure for installations
of loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and
now solid wall insulation in residential property
which they let (including first-time
installations). The LESA scheme is due to expire
in 2009.
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Arson Attack - Petrol Bomb to basement. (HMO in
Ipswich)
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Activation of 1 sprinkler head, 8 persons escaped
unharmed - no property damage. Fire out upon
Fire Service arrival. - Residents returned to
their rooms
Sprinkler head
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Contacts
Andrew Newman - Service Manager Environmental
Health
01638 719284
Phil Thorneywork - Environmental Health Officer
01638 719377
Torben Wood - Environmental Health Officer
01638 719289
Richard Clark - Environmental Health Officer
01638 719245
Forest Heath District Council, College Heath
Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 7EY
HTTP//WWW.Forest-Heath.gov.uk
Derek Leach
Kevin Butcher
Eastern Landlords AssociationUnit 4, St Francis
House141-147 Queens RoadNorwich, NR1 3PN Tel
01603 767101
Suffolk Fire Rescue ServiceBrigade
HeadquartersColchester RdIpswichSuffolkIP4 4SS