Retrospectively apply for HMO?

[Luckyhorseshoe]

hi everyone. New to the forum.

First time landlord and we purchased a three storey property, completely renovated it, got tenants in then now realise we qualify clearly for HMO.

No excuses here, we were naive and clearly didn’t research enough before stepping into this. However, we must rectify this. The entire building is to fire regs and recently passed all safety checks.

My main question is, we clearly need to contact the council but is there clear fines for this or do they approach this pragmatically?

Many thanks. Tim.

[theartfullodger]

Depends.

You may also be subject to a rent repayment order and have to give all the rent back, or fine up to £30k

Contact council TODAY, be humble, helpful and quick to respond.

You may also find any s21 invalid.

Suggest you read slowly this ...
https://england.shelter.org.uk/legal...nsing/offences

Declaring ALL rent income to HMRC?

What training have you done in how to be a landlord?

[jpkeates]

My main question is, we clearly need to contact the council but is there clear fines for this or do they approach this pragmatically?

They're all different.
A lot will depend if you have been operating for a few weeks, a few months or for some years.

I have to say that I find it a bit odd that your research into running an HMO identified the safety checks required, but not that it had to be licensed.
And, very hopefully, by "is to fire regs" you mean that someone has done a proper fire risk assessment and the building complies.

[AlexR]

hi everyone. New to the forum.

My main question is, we clearly need to contact the council but is there clear fines for this or do they approach this pragmatically?

.

I would look on the council's website and download an application form and complete it, attach the fee and send it in. It will depend on your council but my local Council have a backlog of about a year. Most councils prefer to encourage landlords to do the right thing and you seem to want to do that.

I recommend joining a Landlord Association, attending local meetings and booking a Landlord Induction Course.