I am a postgraduate student viewing a 3 bedroom property in Manchester today, along with 2 other postgraduate students. The landlord has said all three of us will need to pay the whole year of rent at once as he doesn’t have a HMO license. Is this normal? Or should he get a HMO? We really like the house and can pay upfront but it seems a bit odd.
Thank you in advance!
Sounds odd
I don’t know if Manchester require a license in 3 beds
Licensing is for five beds and above
But it may be different in different jurisdictions
That’s never normally been a reason to take rent upfront
It’s customary to take rent upfront from internationals as they don’t have a U.K. based guarantor
Whatever happens don’t hand the money over until you are signing a contract
Just check they are the landlord on land registry
If thats what the landlord said, then it makes no sense. Paying up-front doesnt let him off the hook if the property needs a licence. I suggest you check again what he means and whether it needs a licence and be prepared to find somewhere else.
Thanks for the reply! He said that he doesn’t have a HMO license, but because we are all students from different households he would need to buy one? I have read licensing is required for 5+ people, but he said for three people to rent this house they would need to be a family or pay upfront as he doesn’t want to pay for the license? Does not having a HMO license mean you cannot let to students? I am a little confused…
You need to speak generically to Manchester council
In the U.K. HMO licenses are for five and above
You are three
However some local authorities may impose licensing at three ( three unrelated people eg students makes an HMO )
If you find out directly what your council criteria are you can nip it in the bud
Either landlord is confused or something dodgy is going in
If you do your own research ( anonymously) you can deal with the facts rather than someone’s interpretation / misunderstanding
@l
An HMO license is not a requirement in this case as there are only 3 of you living there.
I would take a guess that because you’re all students the landlord is just a bit worried that the rent may go unpaid etc. and is asking you to pay it up front.
You get all the same protections and rights either paying monthly or up front. It makes no difference to you really.
An HMO licence may be required for three people if the Council has implemented Additional Licensing. The landlord clearly thinks this is required. So is he saying that he needs the full rent up front to afford the licence? I would be suspicious of this. Are you sure hes not a scammer? If hes that poor what happens when the property needs some maintenance?
Hi folks I am quite alarmed at the lack of understanding of HMO.
Please read the law. Unless you are related, couple then you are three unrelated people and HMO is needed. He would need a HMO licence.
Paying a year in advance not a great idea and no need if you have a guarantor.
PLEASE GET COMPETANT ADVICE FROM SHELTER WEBSITE OR CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU. DONT BE TEMPTED BY A BARGAIN AS YOU WILL LOOSE OUT
HMO license is required for large HMOs or the additional features of a property
Three people is not a large HMO
Councils can and do impose licensing criteria at their own discretion so you need to know what the LA says for a borough
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