9^th Nov 2015

In its fight against rogue landlords and overcrowding in shared houses, the Government is planning new laws for a national minimum bedroom size.

The DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) has just issued a new paper that sets out the minimum dimensions for a bedroom, to stop tenants being crammed into dangerous and overpopulated homes by those few unscrupulous landlords.

Councils will been given powers to turn down applications for HMO licences if bedrooms are less than 6.5 sq. Metres.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis introduced the paper; its aims are to make living conditions better within houses in multiple occupation throughout England. The paper also details that the government is planning to include smaller and medium sized properties to become licensed. Landlords will be fined for non-compliance.

The Housing Minister, Brandon Lewis, said: "It is simply unacceptable that people are living in cramped, unsafe accommodation provided by landlords who are more interested in a quick profit than the safety or welfare of their tenants.

"The actions of these rogue landlords are helping fuel illegal working, benefit fraud, and illegal immigration by creating a shadow housing market that carries dangers to people's health as well as communities."

The aim of the proposals is to grant councils more power when attempting to raise the quality of shared houses as they are widening the net tO those that are one and two storeys.

Converted blocks of flats below and above shops used to be exempt; however they will now be included with the remit.


News Archive »