Exemptions

Certain types of buildings will not be HMOs and are, therefore, not subject to the Management Regulations or licensing.

These include those:

  • Buildings, or parts of buildings, occupied by no more than two households each of which comprise a single person (i.e. two person flat shares').
  • Buildings occupied by a resident landlord with up to 2 tenants.
  • Managed or owned by a public body (such as the police or the NHS) or an LHA or a Registered Social Landlord.
  • Where the residential accommodation is ancillary to the principal use of the building e.g. religious establishments, conference centres etc.
  • Student halls of residence, where the education establishment has signed up to an Approved Code of Practice.
  • Buildings regulated otherwise than under the Act, such as care homes, bail hostels etc., and the description of which are specified in regulations.
  • Buildings entirely occupied by freeholders or long leaseholders.

Bed and Breakfast Hotels

The Council will regard bed and breakfast hotels as HMOs if they are housing any people who use the hotel as their main residence for more than 30 consecutive days. Where this accommodation is used as a main residence, the same standards as for other HMOs should be met