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HMO properties are common in London. There have been many articles discussing the modern family in the capital, detailing the movement from the traditional family to the relationship that people have with their flatmates. Given the cost of renting property in locations like Brixton, many people have no option but to rent with friends or even strangers. It is these properties which are set to face changes with new regulations coming in later in 2018.

From the 1^st of October 2018, HMO licencing regulations are being revised and this will result in smaller properties which previously didn’t require licencing now needing a licence. There will also be new regulations relating to living space in these properties, which may be an issue for some landlords, particularly London and Brixton landlords.

Many landlords may need a licence with the new rules

The Residential Landlords Association, the RLA, suggests that over 177,000 may need to obtain a licence under the new regulations. Some of the changes being brought in include:

Bedrooms that are occupied by one adult must be at least 6.51 sqm while a bedroom for two adults must be at least 10.22 sqm
Bedrooms that are occupied by children aged 10 or younger must be at least 4.64 sqm

It is possible for local authorities to increase the limits if required, so landlords should be aware of this as it may affect them. The new regulations will apply to HMOs which are less than three storeys high, which will be a meaningful change from the current system. This will also apply to flats which are in buildings which have been converted and properties located above or below shops.

Landlords will be provided with time to upgrade their property

If a property is deemed to be non-compliant with the new regulations, landlords will be provided with an 18-month period to make necessary changes.

Another change to the current HMO licencing issue that is an HMO which is occupied by at least five people and containing a minimum of two households will have to be licenced.

Some property market experts have tipped that these changes will lead to many landlords looking to remortgage their property to obtain financing to make changes could struggle to receive the backing they require.

Given that many landlords have split existing bedrooms into smaller rooms to create more letting opportunities, there may be issues for London and Brixton landlords to contend with. Of course, with some tenants thankful for smaller rooms as they provide an affordable rental solution in the capital, not every tenant will benefit from these changes due to be implemented from autumn of this year.

If you are a tenant or landlord in Brixton and you are not sure how or if the new HMO regulations will affect you, it is best to speak to an expert. As a lettings specialist in the capital, I am more than happy to help you, so please get in touch. Landlords have had to deal with many changes of late, and a lot of professionals feel overwhelmed when it comes to the market, but if you are looking for support, get in touch.