Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and Coronavirus

Complaints and Enquiries

The Environmental Health Team at East Herts are still working and we will maintain a service both to our residents with concerns about their accommodation and to our landlords with enquiries. Of course we have had to make changes to the way we work and where possible we will liaise with tenants and landlords through email, phone, photos and video only making visits to properties where we feel this is necessary.

HMO Licensing

Licensing of new HMO’s (with 5 or more tenants) and the relicensing of existing properties continues so please remember to get your applications for relicensing to use before the previous licence expires. It is unlikely that we will inspect properties but we will expect landlords to provide us will the relevant information and documentation and to talk to us where there is any problem with this. There may be a delay in issuing the final licences until we review some of our procedures but if this is a problem for you especially with any mortgage requirements please discuss this with us.

Landlord Responsibilities

Each situation must be considered on a case-by-case basis. Whilst you have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure that your properties are legally compliant, you also have a duty to protect yourself, your staff, contractors and your tenants.

The government put out the following guidance about work in homes by tradespeople (25 March 2020):

Work carried out in people’s homes, for example by tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms. Again, it will be important to ensure that Public Health England guidelines, including maintaining a two metre distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety. No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repairs, and where the tradesperson is willing to do so. In such cases, Public Health England can provide advice to tradespeople and households. No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.

Common Parts

HMO Landlords have a duty to maintain common parts, ensuring that they and any a fixtures, fittings or appliances used in common by two or more households within the HMO are maintained in good and safe repair and in clean working order. With the current situation we suggest that you review how you are doing this in the light of guidance on social distancing isolation and shielding as it may be you can make arrangements with your tenants to support you in this. This also applies to the testing and maintenance of your fire precautions (including fire doors) and we expect that these safety check are continued and recorded.

Advice to tenants

It is important that your tenants take on guidance to look after themselves and each other so we recommend that you use information on gov.uk/coronavirus and on the NHS website to help inform your tenants. In particular they should try to maintain good hygiene, social distancing and if necessary self-isolation

If a situation arises which is of particular concern to you, please do not hesitate to contact us, ideally by email, giving your contact details for us to get back to you. Please  email  housinganddhealth@eastherts.gov.uk