Houses in Multiple Occupation
A House In Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a house that may be divided into self contained flats or bedsits. Some houses may have to share the cooking and bathing facilities in which case the law sets out standards for the number of facilities for the number of occupants. The more floors a building has and the greater the number of households within the building, the greater the risk of the occupants being trapped in the event of a fire. It is important to ensure that there is an automatic fire detection system in place to warn that there is a fire somewhere in the building. It is also important that the main route out of the building (the escape route) has been protected to ensure the fire will not break through for at least 30 minutes. This will not only allow the occupants to get out but will also allow the firemen safe passage into the building to tackle the blaze. The layout of each flat is important to ensure that the occupants will not get trapped inside by a fire in the kitchen or living room.
The rules that apply to rented houses (See Housing Conditions) also apply to multi occupancy houses but there are additional standards for the number of amenities and for fire precautions.The person having control of the building has a duty to maintain it in a good standard of repair. The occupants have a duty to keep the common parts tidy and in good repair and not to tamper with equipment provided to fight fire.
The Local Authority has a duty to inspect all houses in multiple occupation in their area which is done on a risk assessment basis, dealing with the worse properties first and moving towards a regular cyclic inspection thereafter.
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Contact us; Customer Services on 08452 304040 or 01462 611 222 or email Customer.Services@midbeds.gov.uk.
* Download Fees and Charges 2008/09 (application/pdf; 68kb)
* Download Mid Beds DC Houses in Multiple Occupation Strategy (application/pdf; 512kb)
* Download Licence for Houses In Multiple Occupation (application/pdf; 222kb)
* Download Guidance on General Requirements at HMOs (application/pdf; 104kb)
* Download Fire Safety Guidance for Tenants in HMOs (application/pdf; 106kb)
* Download Fire Safety Guidance for Owners of HMOs (application/pdf; 109kb)
* Download Guidance on Fire Alarms Systems in HMOs (application/pdf; 114kb)
* Download Landlords Safety Log Book for Houses in Multiple Occupation (application/pdf; 302kb)
* Download Landlord Accreditation Scheme (application/pdf; 127kb)
