A can of worms, by design

Doing the research for an article for my website today, I read for the first time the new HMO Management Regulations, which I mentioned briefly in a previous post.

It looks like life is going to get tougher for landlords, particularly those whose properties are not up to scratch. These new regulations impose new obligations, for example to have electrical checks done at least every five years (plus landlords will be obliged to provide copies of certificates for this and their gas certificates to the Local Authority on demand within 7 days), plus properties will have to be safe, not only with respect to their fire safety and structural condition, but also by reason of their design. Does this mean, I wonder, that ill designed properties will become effectively impossible to rent out? That sounds like a can of worms to me.

Because these regulations are important. Because they will apply to far more properties than the old regulations. Because as a result of the new HMO definition in the Housing Act 2004, far more properties are likely to be HMO’s.

So I would strongly recommend all you landlords of properties with more than two people who are not family members sharing, to check these regulations carefully to see that you are compliant. Because you may find that they apply to your properties.

The new regulations come into force on 6 April 2006.