HMO License fee payable per unit or per person sharing a unit which is a self-contained flat
HMO Licensing

Has Fmaat
Has Fmaat
1 Thanks
10 Posts
9 years ago
0
I am trying to clarify a point.
We have a self-contained flat let to 3 sharers on a single tenancy agreement.
I believe what matters ultimately is what the legislation says, but the council is quoting the following;
“The standard fee is £208 per residential unit, ie for each bedsit room, self-contained flat, non-self-contained flat or bedroom in a house let on a single tenancy agreement to a group of friends”.

It appears from the above statement that, a self-contained flat is a residential unit, let on a single tenancy agreement to a group of friends. Which is what ours is?

The fee they state is per residential unit?
The same statement does not say the fee is per resident, residing in the self-contained flat let on a single tenancy agreement to a group of friends.
If they say the fee for a self-contained flat let on a single tenancy agreement to 3 sharers count as 3 units.
That is not the meaning that their statement conveys. At least as I understand it.

They then quote the following from on page three of their own info-pack;
IS THERE A FEE FOR LICENSING?
YES. A fee is payable on application. The fee is currently £208 per unit of accommodation. In the case of an HMO where the tenants are friends on a single tenancy agreement, the fee is £208 per bedroom. The fee is reduced by £100 for each HMO for an accredited landlord.

The above forms a main part of my correspondence with the council, I modified it a little for the purpose of addressing yourselves.
My point is that ultimately what matters is what the legislation say.
Which is what I said to them. It would be very time consuming for me to find the relevant provision. May I therefore ask for your official view on the subject matter. I don't wish to fall foul of legislation but I don't wish to mislead my clients and cost them money.
The council also said the following in their reply.
I’m afraid that the advice you have been given is wrong. Please see page 3 of the attached document. Under “Is there a fee for licensing” at the top of the page, it states “The fee is currently £208 per unit of accommodation. In the case of an HMO where the tenants are friends on a single tenancy agreement, the fee is £208 per bedroom”.



Thanking you in anticipation.

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