Employers beware! If you are a company which rents flats or houses for your employees - i.e. your company is named as the tenant whilst your employees are the permitted occupants - you may need to be aware of new regulations affecting rented property that falls under the definition of Houses in Multiple Occupation or HMO's, warns Relocate UK, one of the UK's largest relocation agents.
There are various definitions of an HMO, but typically HMO's are buildings (or a part of a building) which are occupied by more than one household and in which more than one household shares an amenity, for example kitchen, bathroom, or cooking facilities. Therefore, if you are renting a property shared by a number of people who are not part of the same family or household, you will be affected by these new regulations.
Says Relocate UK's Managing Director, Paul Weller: "Regulation governing HMO's is long-winded and complex, but essentially the Housing Act 2004 provides for national mandatory licensing of all HMO's which will affect thousands of properties, for example those shared by groups of colleagues or students.
"Whilst the landlord is responsible for ensuring the property is safe and appropriately licensed, as an employer renting on behalf of your employee(s), you are also liable and could face severe penalties for non-compliance, particularly if there is a fire or accident at the property and an employee is killed or injured. If you are using a relocation agent to source and manage your rented property, you should ensure they are familiar with the Housing Act 2004 generally and with HMO regulation specifically, and are taking adequate steps to protect both your employees and your interests."
Relocate UK, which looks after thousands of tenancies a year for a number of large UK companies, has been advising its clients on the impact of the new HMO regulations and how to stay on the right side of the law. The company has also produced a straightforward but comprehensive fact sheet on the subject.
Says Mr Weller: "Although these regulations are not yet complete, we have summarised the main points that employers should be aware of, and will continue to release updates as and when there are developments. It is vital that all companies that are renting, or considering renting a property that falls under the definition of an HMO familiarise themselves with these regulations, or seek advice from an expert in residential lettings such as ourselves."
A free copy of the Relocate HMO Fact Sheet is available here. For help with any aspect of relocating to or within the UK, please email info@relocate.uk.com or call 0845 345 4143. |
