by Readers Question
10:08 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago 29
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Hi, I rent out a 1 bed flat in Southend on Sea, the council have just introduced selective licensing. I have just had a compliance visit, the result being that the housing officer has said the bedroom is too small for someone to sleep in!
The room is 7.8m2, she says the housing act 2004 states that it has to be 9m2 for one person or 10m2 for 2 people.
The only information I can find relates to HMO’s and that is 6.5m2.
Does anyone know where I can find this information?
Thanks
Ben
Tags: bedroom size, councils selective licensing, HMO rules, southend
Have your say by commenting below
Judith Llewellyn
10:24 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago
Possibly change living room to bedroom for next visit, end of day it is then tenants choice.
Graeme
10:26 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago
The person making the statement has an obligation to provide you with the reference to the legislation. Ask her for the reference in the legislation and then take a read of it.
Ryan Stevens
10:32 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago
No idea where she is getting that minimum size from. see this link:
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/does-the-law-set-a-minimum-bedroom-size-in-england/
Dennis Leverett
10:39 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago
https://www.southend.gov.uk/downloads/file/8061/private-sector-housing-guidance-for-selective-licensing
Sleeping rooms must not be less than a minimum area of 6.51m2 for a single
letting and 10.22m2 for a double letting.
Challenge it quoting their own recommendation’s. The 11 sq. metres is if includes kitchen facilities in the room.
Des Taylor & Phil Turtle, Landlord Licensing & Defence
10:39 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago
There are no minimum sizes for bedrooms in the Housing Act 2004 unless it is a flat in a licensable section257 converted building in which case the national minimum of 6.51m2 would apply.
(Note a s257 building coverted to flats is technically an HMO under the Housing Act, confusing though this is.)
The landlord and tenant act under overcrowding states these acceptable occupancies
Number of persons
110 sq. ft. or more
2
90 sq. ft. or more but less than 110 sq.ft.
1½
70 sq. ft. or more but less than 90 sq. ft.
1
50 sq. ft. or more but less than 70 sq. ft.
½
(1/2 person is child under 10yrs)
Your room is about 84sq ft so would
appear acceptable for 1 person
If you need further professional
assistance to fight this apparently nonsense by the council please contact Landlord Licensing & Defence on 0208 088 3575 or https://landlordsdefence.co.uk/contact
LordOf TheManor
10:51 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Des Taylor & Phil Turtle, Landlord Licensing & Defence at 11/01/2024 – 10:39Hmmmm. Would you mind putting the measurements quoted in square metres? Thanks – it would be easier to follow if all units quoted in this topic are directly comparable!
Darren Peters
11:35 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ryan Stevens at 11/01/2024 – 10:32
Further to Ryan’s link above indicating that your housing officer does not know their own rules on room sizes, is your property actually within Southend’s selective licencing zone?
It’s shown here:
https://southend.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a417422b8b0845b2b3918278386d3029
JB
11:39 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago
Your tenant could sleep in the street – much more space there
Des Taylor & Phil Turtle, Landlord Licensing & Defence
11:44 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by LordOf TheManor at 11/01/2024 – 10:51
Sorry it is a direct quote from the legislation and so must remain in sq ft as per the legislation
I did the necessary calculation for the OP
NewYorkie
11:45 AM, 11th January 2024, About 2 months ago
When it comes to box-tickers, it doesn’t matter that there’s a rental crisis.
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