Houses in Multiple Occupation and licensed properties are now subject to new room sizes. The minimum sleeping room floor area sizes is now 6.51m square for one person over 10 years of age and 10.22m square for two persons over 10 years and 4.64m square for one child under the age of 10 years.
The minimum size for sleeping accommodation does not apply to charities providing night shelters or temporary accommodation for people suffering or recovering from drug or alcohol abuse or mental disorders.
It will also be a mandatory condition that any room of less than 4.64m square may not be used as sleeping accommodation and the landlord will need to notify the local housing authority of any room in the HMO with a floor area of less than 4.64m square. The measurement is one of wall to wall floor area where the ceiling height is greater than 1.5m. No part of a room should be included in the measurement where the ceiling height is less than 1.5m.
David Smith, Policy Director for the RLA said “We warmly welcome this new guidance. It reflects considerable work between the RLA and the Government in addressing serious concerns about the consequences of the room size changes. The Government has clearly listened to our concerns and this document should provide much greater assurance to landlords and tenants alike.”