The Legislate HMO assured shorthold tenancy agreement is the perfect legal tool to ensure that you meet your legal obligations as a HMO landlord and make them clear to your HMO tenants.
An assured shorthold tenancy agreement (also known as an AST) allows a landlord to let a property to a tenant. The term of an assured shorthold tenancy agreement is usually 6 or 12 months and will usually convert to a rolling periodic tenancy at the end of the initial term.
A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a property rented out by 3 or more people forming more than one household. Depending on the location of the property, a landlord might need a HMO licence. A HMO tenancy agreement is an agreement between the landlord and a tenant and will grant exclusive possession to a room in the shared house as well as access to shared facilities such as a kitchen, communal areas and a bathroom. Landlords who rent out a HMO have additonal responsibilities which need to be clearly spelled out in the assured shorthold tenancy agreement.
A permitted occupier is someone who is permitted by the Landlord to live at the property with the tenant but is not a party to the tenancy agreement. This means that the tenant is responsible for the permitted occupier. Children are often treated as permitted occupiers. Before authorising a permitted to a HMO tenant, the landlord must check that the room size requirements are sufficient.
A landlord of a HMO property has additional responsibilities including maintaining the cleanliness and repair of the communal areas and facilities, ensuring the property is not overcrowded, and displaying their or their agent's contact information to the tenant. A HMO licence also imposes a minimum room floor area requirements based on the age and number of people living in the room.
Legislate's assured shorthold tenancy allows you to add a permitted occupier to the agreement. Simply select this option and enter their details.