Registration Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation

Peterborough City Council (referred to as 'The Authority') operates a Registration Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation which aims to ensure all the properties in the Council district which fall within the scope of the scheme are registered and fully compliant with the Council's Housing Standard.

Applicable Properties

The properties specifically excluded from registration are:-

Those owned, used or controlled by the Authority,
Those used as 'homes',
Those with less than three people living in them, or three if the landlord (and family) lives there,
Self contained flats in a house where at least one third of the flats are owned or on long term leases and the owner or lessee lives there
Properties controlled by registered social landlords
Student accommodation controlled by an educational body

Self contained flat refers to properties originally constructed for occupation by a single household and which have subsequently been converted into flats. The conversion does not have to be direct, the building may have been used, for example as offices, between its original use as a single household dwelling, and its use as self contained flats. In cases where the access to all flats is directly from the outside, that is to say there is no internal common area, the house is still a house in multiple occupation.

Public Register

The scheme requires that the Authority maintain a register of all houses in multiple occupation. This is a Public Document, available for inspection at Bayard Place on request at all reasonable times. The register contains details of:-

the house
the amenities (kitchens and bathrooms)
the number of people living there and the number for which it is registered
any works carried out in relation to the registration
the name and designation of anyone managing or having an interest in the house

Registration and Fees

An application to register the house is to be made on the prescribed form. (there is a link at the end of this page) An application consists not only of the fully completed form, but also the correct fee. The initial registration is for a period of five years, and is subsequently renewable for five year periods. The renewal fee if half the current full fee at the time the renewal application is made.

The fee is calculated on the basis of £60 per habitable room. A habitable room is a bedroom or lounge, but will also include a dining room if that room is also used as a lounge (or has to be reckoned as a lounge to satisfy the space standard.

Thus the registration of a house offering 4 lettable rooms and a communal lounge would be £300 for an initial registration, this equates to 29 pence per letting per week.

Conditions for Registration

The Authority can refuse to register a property, or can refuse to renew or vary a registration if the house is unsuitable and cannot be made suitable, or if the person in control is not a fit and proper person.

Conditions can be imposed relating to carrying out works to make the house suitable for use as a house in multiple occupation before a registration will be granted. It can also impose conditions relating to the management of the house during the period of registration.

Conditions can also be imposed as to the number of people allowed to live in the house.

The application can be revoked if any works required are not carried out within specified time limits, the person having control is not a fit and proper person, or imposed management conditions have been breached.