Revealed: New HMO room size regulations to come in this autumn

Revealed: New HMO room size regulations to come in this autumn

From October councils will be able to set minimum bedroom size standards for HMOs – and also introduce limits on how many people can live in each bedroom.

Councils will be able to use national minimum standards or apply even tougher requirements if they feel there is a specific problem in a local area.

Minimum space requirements

Rooms used for sleeping by one person over 10-years-old will have to be no smaller than 6.51 square metres, and those slept in by two people over 10-years-old will have to be no smaller than 10.22 square metres.

Rooms slept in by children of 10 years and younger will have to be no smaller than 4.64 square metres.

The HMO licence must specify the maximum number of persons (if any) who may occupy any room and the total number across the different rooms must be the same as the number of people the house is to be home to.

Who do these new rules apply to?

The new standards will apply to all landlords seeking new licences.

Landlords of existing properties will be given up to 18 months to make necessary changes when re-applying for a licence when it expires.