Issue - meetings

Legal minimum standards for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) were prescribed in regulations under the Housing Act 2004. These related to the provision of kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, fire safety and heating within HMOs. Under Section 65 of the Act, more detailed local HMO standards could be set, to reflect local housing conditions, provided they did not fall below the national standard.

It was proposed to revise the London Borough of Bromley’s current standards for HMOs to incorporate recent changes in legislation and to improve on the minimum legal requirements. The local standards proposed sought to drive up standards in Bromley and improve housing conditions to protect vulnerable private rented sector tenants. They were written to guide landlords more easily through the requirements and would supplement the Article 4 Direction to withdraw permitted development rights granted by Schedule 2, Part 3, Class I of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, which permitted a change of use from a dwelling-house to a house in multiple occupation. 

It was confirmed that all HMOs in the borough would be subject to the revised standards. There were routine inspections in place for larger HMOs, but it was sometimes difficult to identify smaller HMOs unless complaints were received.

The Chairman noted that paragraph 3.9 in the report should read “…the revised adopted standards…”

RESOLVED that

(1)  The revised HMO Adopted Standards, Appendix 1 to the report, be approved and adopted as the standards generally required for houses in multiple occupation within the London Borough of Bromley.

(2)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Environment and Community Services to make further amendments to the standards as may be found necessary without reducing standards in any way.