Author Topic: Private Dwelling or HMO (Read 42500 times)

CivvyFSO · « **Reply #30 on:** August 30, 2007, 10:42:05 AM »

Indeed, I was going to cut n paste some of the housing act so people had the facts to work from, that link makes it a bit clearer than just pasting the act.

Ricardo · « **Reply #31 on:** August 30, 2007, 03:18:07 PM »

Civvy FSO & Big T many thanks for the info and advice, much appreciated, as said previously I am based in Scotland, so am unsure about some of the terms you use.

Ricardo

Chris Houston · « **Reply #32 on:** August 30, 2007, 09:01:31 PM »

This makes me wonder if fire behaves different depending if occupants are family. Would people be burnt less quickly is they have blood connections.

Baffled.

Chris.

Midland Retty · « **Reply #33 on:** August 31, 2007, 08:48:45 AM »

Yeah I see where you are coming from Chris.

Seems daft doesn't it!

However there is good reason for why tenants particularly in HMOs are protected under various sets of legislation.

Its because they tend to be vulnerable people.

Big T · « **Reply #34 on:** August 31, 2007, 08:59:24 AM »

I think the issue is that when rent from multiple occupants is in the mix, the building becomes almost a business (i'd imagine the profit margins would be pretty slim). Rather than a standard domestic dwelling.

I remeber watching a tv programme about a family on the social with 11 kids. I remeber watching the father pull the loft hatch open and send three of youngest children up the ladder to their bedroom in the attic and then close the hatch behind them. Truly frightening. I think it needs to be numbers rather than the blood line.

Mike Buckley · « **Reply #35 on:** August 31, 2007, 12:57:30 PM »

Chris,

I think the whole thing used to work on the assumption that a person would not deliberately put their own family at risk whilst they may well put non family at risk for profit. How valid that assumption was is open to question at times.

CivvyFSO · « **Reply #36 on:** August 31, 2007, 01:29:30 PM »

It could also be based on statistics. Fires and deaths in HMO's are relatively common compared to family homes.

Ricardo · « **Reply #37 on:** August 31, 2007, 09:46:16 PM »

Our old friend Mr Todd always told me that Statistically, if you spend one night in an HMO you are about nine times more likely to die from fire than if you spent one night in a single family dwelling and therefore there is a need to provide additional fire precautions."

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/5392846.stm

PhilB · « **Reply #38 on:** September 02, 2007, 04:31:51 PM »

Quote from: Big T

Ricardo.

Communities and local government have some good online publications on HMO's. Check out the guides for landlords and managers. Should cover all your queries

www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/licensinghouses

Not if you live and work in Scotland!!!!!!!!

Dinnertime Dave · « **Reply #39 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:00:42 PM »

My understanding is that if its a single dwelling including shared housing then Local Authority take action not the FRS.

My source is the protocol between Local Housing Authorities and Fire & Rescue Services to Improve Fire Safety (Published by CFOA May 2007)

Midland Retty · « **Reply #40 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:34:54 PM »

Thats correct Dinnertime Dave

The Protocol now sets out which authority is the lead authority for enforcing fire standards in HMOs.

As a General Rule:-

LA enforce Fire Safety in all HMOs, SDD, Flats etc

FRA Enforce HMO's forming part of 'mixed use' buildings and sheltered housing.
FRA will also enforce in any council owned HMO's
FRA's will enforce standards in hostels, B&Bs and Hotels

Dont forget however that it is just a protocol... it has no legal status!

Big T · « **Reply #41 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:47:35 PM »

Quote from: PhilB

Quote from: Big T
Ricardo.

Communities and local government have some good online publications on HMO's. Check out the guides for landlords and managers. Should cover all your queries

www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/licensinghouses
Not if you live and work in Scotland!!!!!!!!

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/47060/0028721.pdf

That should cover it!

Ricardo · « **Reply #42 on:** September 05, 2007, 06:09:27 PM »

Yes indeed BigT only thing is as soon as the sleeping guide is available covering such occupancies, it will tell us that it replaces this document. We still await most of the guides here in Scotland.

val · « **Reply #43 on:** September 05, 2007, 06:44:35 PM »

Ricardo

God! You mean Scotland hasn't prodced all the necessary guides before lunchtime? I'm flabbergasted, being led to believe that all things Scottish were bathed in a golden glow. (Must be since the SNP took over)
Still find it strange that Scotland is the only region of the UK with a declining population despite the English bribing them to stay there.
Only joking of course

Ken Taylor · « **Reply #44 on:** September 05, 2007, 09:37:15 PM »

Pesumably they will scrap all this RRO stuff when they declare independence and come up with something better?

News:

Author Topic: Private Dwelling or HMO (Read 42500 times)

Chris Houston

Midland Retty

Midland Retty