15-09-2006
Landlords and tenants could suffer under new laws
New licences will be introduced tomorrow - April 6th - when the 2004 Housing Act comes into effect along with certain rules that are causing dismay among landlords.
Mandatory licences are being introduced for owners of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) that have three or more storeys and five or more occupants.
The licences are designed to ensure that houses are properly managed but, in addition, any HMO with five or more sharers will be required to have a washbasin in every bedroom.
Many HMOs have occupants living in spare reception rooms, such as rooms originally intended as living or dining rooms, but even these will not be exempt from the new ruling.
According to the Daily Telegraph, critics have argued that the required plumbing installations could cost thousands of pounds as well as making the property harder to sell on, as families could be deterred from buying a house with a washbasin in the living room.
In addition, the rules could make life harder for tenants, as many landlords are likely to counter the cost of the work by increasing rental charges.
