Many of the flats or houses up for rent today are what are known as multiple occupation houses. Also called HMOs, these homes are classified as such because there are as few as three unrelated people residing in the home. Of course, there could be even more. These three people must all be tenants and not include the landlord should they also reside in the dwelling. Additionally, an HMO would have a shared bathroom, toilet or kitchen. Perhaps the HMO would require tenants to share all three.

When living in an HMO, you want to make sure that the landlord is licensed. This is a legal requirement that is awarded upon the passing of a comprehensive inspection. This is helpful to current and prospective tenants because at any time a license can be revoked if the landlord does not maintain the property in accordance with the law. A simple check can help you determine the validity of a landlord’s license. If you find a landlord that does not have a license, then this is a clear sign to avoid renting the property from them.

Another tip for renting an HMO is that the landlord must properly maintain the property throughout the duration of your occupancy. If at any time, conditions fall below par, you do have some recourse. Some of the things landlords must ensure are safe appliances. They must be working and follow safety protocols. Additionally, landlord must provide protection for their tenants from fire. For instance, working smoke alarms must be present in the HMO. Fire extinguishers are also need to an HMO. Both the smoke alarms and fire extinguishers must be tested regularly to ensure that they work properly. Also, a fire escape route should be established to allow for safe evacuation in the event of a fire. Landlords are expected to meet other conditions such as proper electric wiring and ventilation. At any time these conditions are unsatisfactory; your landlord can be reported. Typically, the authorities will first attempt to get your landlord to rectify any problems. Failure to do so would lead to the revocation of their licensure.