Housing Policy - Guest House vs HMO
Case reference FOI2023/00042
Published 23 January 2023
Request
Information Request - Housing Policy - Guest House vs HMO
Please provide a copy of the Local Authority's policy on when a Guest House (or similar) becomes, in the LA's opinion an HMO and therefore subject to HA 2004.
This question is raised in particular with regard to the considerable number of Guest Houses which house 'homeless' persons on a temporary or short term basis whilst permanent accommodation is found for them.
The policy (or additional notes) should explain how the LA judges whether each such individual is a "guest on licence" or a "tenant on implied AST".
Any additional information that would help this firm in explaining to landlords your LA's distinctions (and therefore their liabilities within your LA area) would be welcomed. If any amplification upon this request is required please contact the below.
If the policy is already published on the LA's website giving all of the information requested then a hyperlink will suffice. If not then a digital copy of the policy document would be required please.
Please ensure that the policy supplied covers all of the questions asked above.
Response
Information Request - Housing Policy - Guest House vs HMO
Please provide a copy of the Local Authority's policy on when a Guest House (or similar) becomes, in the LA's opinion an HMO and therefore subject to HA 2004.
This question is raised in particular with regard to the considerable number of Guest Houses which house 'homeless' persons on a temporary or short term basis whilst permanent accommodation is found for them.
The policy (or additional notes) should explain how the LA judges whether each such individual is a "guest on licence" or a "tenant on implied AST".
Any additional information that would help this firm in explaining to landlords your LA's distinctions (and therefore their liabilities within your LA area) would be welcomed. If any amplification upon this request is required please contact the below.
If the policy is already published on the LA's website giving all of the information requested then a hyperlink will suffice. If not then a digital copy of the policy document would be required please.
Please ensure that the policy supplied covers all of the questions asked above.
Herefordshire Council do not currently have a policy on the above, all cases would be considered on their own merits against the legislation.
Documents
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