Insurance News Archive

HMO licence causing landlord 'confusion'

The recently introduced Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) legislation has left "landlords in a state of confusion", according to the editor of price comparison site Moneyfacts.

Lee Tillcock said that the uncertainty among landlords has been caused by the procedure and enforcement of HMO licences differing between councils, a situation likely to affect the availability of such housing stock.

National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) data showed that the cost of a licence could range from £150 to £1,750, Mr Tillcock explained.

Mr Tillcock said that although fears had been raised that the licences had brought about a "major impact" on the housing sector, their introduction only affected a small proportion of the market.

However, it was revealed that the number of landlords who were investing in HMOs had fallen from nine per cent to six per cent in the last quarter.

18 Oct 2006