HMO
The licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and their landlords has been introduced to raise standards of accommodation in the private rented sector. >From the April 2006 HMO’s will require a licence from the local Council
The following properties are classed as a HMO if they are used as the tenants main residence. This includes houses let to students and migrant workers and properties which are used as domestic refuges.
1. A house or flat which is let to 3 or more tenants who form 2 or more households and who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.
2. A house which has been converted into bedsits which is let to 3 or more tenants who form 2 or more households and who share kitchen, bathroom or toilet facilities.
3. A house which contains one or more flats which are not wholly self contained (ie the flat does not contain within it a kitchen, bathroom and toilet) and which is occupied by 3 or more tenants who form 2 or more households.
4. A building which was converted into self-contained flats without Building Regulation approval and more than one-third of the flats are let on short-term tenancies.
The Landlord must be a “fit and proper” person which will require a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check before a licence can be granted.
Smoking Ban
Smoking is now banned in all pubs, clubs and public areas such as schools, college and university site grounds except in designated smoking areas, train, coach and bus stations and airports. Clubs had hoped for an exemption however after a free vote the Commons decided by a large margin to introduce an outright ban. A new age restriction of 18 years old has been put in place where anyone under the age of 18 may not be served cigerettes.
Gambling Act
We have completed our first Law Society accredited training programme on the new Gambling Law. Forty Five Local Government officers attended a one day programme staged in conjunction with the Institute of Licensing in Torquay. The day was well received with a number of very positive comments such as “Informative & interesting day”, “Very good enjoyable presentation” and “Good level of detail presented plainly in easy chunks”