South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Houses of Multiple Occupancy

Published: 16 October, 2007

Cllr Alex Maskey MLA has welcomed the announcement by the Housing Executive that landlords of homes of multiple occupancy (HMO) will be required to register with the Housing executive.


Mr Maskey said:

"Over many years landlords could provide HMO's without any legal requirements. These landlords were mostly genuine and met safety requirements and provided a high standard of accommodation and maintenance. Many property speculators have however bought properties and turned them into HMO's as a means of generating a fast return on their investment many of these did not meet the required standard especially on health and safety issues


"This scheme will make it a legal requirement for any landlord who has a HMO to register with the Housing Executive. The registration process means that properties will be inspected to ensure they meet minimum standards including fire safety. Where they do not, landlords will be told the work that they need to do to bring their properties up to the required standards.


"Although some grants will still be available for landlords to meet these requirements monies will be targeted at areas such as the regeneration of town centre dwellings and other specific rural and urban areas.
"I welcome the fact that it will be a legal requirement for landlords now need to register as the tenants of these homes deserve the same level of protection as other home dwellers.