Coronavirus and HMOs
Whilst many HMOs provide good standards of living accommodation there are large numbers of people who live in a one room flat/bedsit with no, or limited, additional space for relaxation and socialising. Normally this style of accommodation doesn’t create a problem and provides an affordable and perfectly acceptable home for many. However, it’s fair to say that normal has been redefined by the Coronavirus pandemic.
HMOs have been of obvious concern in the spread of the pandemic, with serious difficulties for many tenants in both maintaining social distancing and dealing with increased mental health issues where living in small accommodation units.
Much guidance and advice has been produced nationally by many authorities.
The UK Government recently produced an updated (21st September 2020) guide for landlords and tenants which can be found here- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-landlords-and-tenants.
Most Local Authorities have posted their own online guidance for landlords and tenants, for example Doncaster have dedicated a fairly extensive webpage to the subject – https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/housing/advice-for-landlords-during-the-covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic
