If the property is occupied by five or more people, forming two or more households and shared facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom, regardless of the number of a storey in the property, is considered an HMO – House in Multiple Occupation.

Definition of a household:

·       Married or living together
·       Relatives or half relatives
·       Step parents and step-children

Responsibilities while letting your property out as HMO:

·       Smoke detectors need to be installed
·       Ensure that the property is not overcrowded (each room for each couple, single person over 21 and every two young people aged over 10 years)
·       Electrics are checked every five years
·       Adequate cooking and washing facilities
·       Shared facilities are clean and in good shape and this applies to communal areas too
 
Each room has to comply with the national minimum room size for sleeping, these are:

• Minimum 4.64 square metres – one person under 10 years
• Minimum 6.51 square metres – one person over 10 years
• Minimum 10.22 square metres – two people over 10 years

·       Any room where the ceiling height is less than 1.5 metres cannot be used towards any minimum room size.
 
If this is all new and confusing, then please contact Kronos Estate Agents as we have an advisor who will be happy to guide you through the process. Please contact us on 020 8004 4477 or email us at info@kronosestates.co.uk