Housing Rights responds to DfC’s Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Subordinate Regulations
Housing Rights previously gave evidence to the former Department for Social Development in support of the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Bill in 2015. The Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (Northern Ireland) was subsequently introduced in 2016.
In November of this year, The Department for Communities published a stakeholder engagement document, outlining eight draft subordinate regulations, in addition to a draft Code of Practice for Landlords. The subordinate regulations are expected to considerably improve the standards of living within HMOs, in addition to safeguarding the health and safety of occupants within HMOs.
Of particular note within the stakeholder engagement document were the following:
- Regulation 1 provides clarity for Councils around the suitability of living accommodation within HMOs and sets out the criteria (minimum standards expected) by which councils must assess premises;
- Regulation 3 lists potential hazards within HMOs to ensure landlords know exactly what standards are required to be met; this is accompanied by
- A Code of Practice for Landlords, which has been developed to assist managers within HMOs by setting out the main elements of good management practice (in accordance with the required standards).
Housing Rights view on these measures is outlined in our response to the Department.
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