Jono
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8 Posts
I wonder if anyone would like to give their views/responses to a property that I own which is a mix of rooms and a flat. Perhaps someone on the forum may have a similar setup?
The building is set up as a self-contained one bedroom flat on the ground floor, then two separate letting rooms a kitchen and bathroom on the top floor. I did not want to convert the house into two separate flats, as I doubt if I would have got permission and because I earn more from renting two rooms separately then I would if it were a separate flat like downstairs. I have not altered the fabric of the building in any way as it already lent itself to this design, therefore planning and building regs do not apply.
It is a large house in good repair so I never get any complaints, however recently I have been reading some articles on the web that local borough Councils do not like this setup and that two kitchens are not allowed in one house and that it is illegal to rent out using this layout. One particular Landlord I read about with a similar setup received a prohibition notice from his borough council as he had apparently fallen foul of planning laws and he had to rip the kitchen out??
It is rented to two individuals upstairs so only two people sharing the upstairs facilities, and the flat downstairs is self-contained and will accommodate two people, I only have one person living there. It is classed as a HMO which in my local area does not need a Licence for four or less tenants. The layout I have is classed as a converted building with mixed accommodation clearly stated under sections 254-259 of the Housing Act 2004. I did make sure that it did not contravene any rules in the HHSRS or the Lacors fire safety guide. There is no construction or changes to involve planning.
My only worry is that can the use as described above, somehow come under planning laws? So use of, may apply rather than physical changes ? I would be very interesting in hearing opinions!
