Student lets can be a minefield, tread carefully

All letting agents will want to ensure that, when instructed by a landlord, they comply with the applicable legal requirements and the obligations set out in the TPO Code of Practice. However there are particular issues that are unique to student lets. It is important, when instructed by a landlord who wishes to let a property to students, to establish if a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) will be created. www.gov.uk defines a HMO as follows: A property is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) if both of the following apply: at least 3 tenants live there, forming more than 1 household each tenant shares toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenants The property is a large HMO if all of the following apply: it is at least three storeys high at least five tenants live there, forming more than one household each tenant shares toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenants. A household is either a single person or members of the same family who live together. A family includes people who are: married or living together – including people in same-sex relationships relatives or half-relatives, e.g. grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings step-parents and step-children. Three or more…