Houses in multiple occupation in Selby

A house in multiple occupation is a house where at least three people live who are not from one household live and share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenants. View the register of properties that are licensed to operate as houses of multiple occupation in the Selby area.

Apply for a licence

Your application must include:

  • gas safety certificate
  • electrical safety certificate
  • energy performance certificate
  • written fire risk assessment
  • portable appliance test certificate (for appliances supplied with the property)
  • plan of the property showing room sizes and numbers of rooms

You will also need to make sure you have met the licensing conditions for room sizes, kitchens and bathrooms and fire safety standards.

Licensing conditions

You must make sure that these conditions are met:

  • minimum bedroom sizes will be: 
    • 6.51 square metres for one person over ten years of age
    • 10.22 square metres for two persons over ten years of age
    • 4.64 square metres for one child under ten years of age
  • there should be suitable and sufficient provision for waste and recycling inside and outside

Rooms with a ceiling height of less than 1.5 metres can’t be counted in any total floor area calculation. Any room with a floor area of less than 4.64 square metres can’t be used as a bedroom.

You can find out more about the licensing conditions you must meet on the Government website.

Minimum standards for kitchens

If kitchens do not have a suitable dining area this must be provided within one floor (this may be a living room, bedsit or bedroom of suitable size).

If hostels provide all main meals the kitchen facilities below are to be provided for every 10 people and the cooker can be replaced with a microwave.  If hostels have a commercial kitchen where access is not available at all times then a separate kitchen must be provided that meets the standards set out here.

Kitchens must have a safe and efficient layout and be of a suitable size.

All facilities and equipment must be fit for purpose.

Sinks

Shared use
A sink with constant hot and cold water, a draining board and tiled splashback per five people (a dishwasher will be acceptable as a second sink) or within an individual unit of accommodation.

Exclusive use    
A sink with constant hot and cold water, tiled splashback and a draining board.

Cookers

Shared use    
A cooker with a four ring hob, oven and a grill per five people or within an individual unit of accommodation (a 27 litre microwave with oven and grill will be acceptable as a second cooker).

Exclusive use    
A cooker with a minimum 2 ring hob, oven and grill.

Electrical sockets

Four suitably positioned electric sockets are needed plus one per major appliance (such as a cooker, microwave, refrigerator/freezer, washing machine).

Worktops

Shared use    
Fixed worktop(s) with a smooth impervious surface for should be available for food preparation, to a minimum size of 500mm by 1000mm per five occupants or within an individual unit of accommodation should be available.

Exclusive use    
Fixed worktop(s) with a smooth surface for food preparation, to a minimum size 500mm by 1000mm should be available.

Storage

Shared use    
A minimum 0.16m3 dry goods storage cupboard (other than a sink base unit) per person either in each person’s room or in a shared kitchen.

Exclusive use    
A minimum 0.16m3 dry goods storage cupboard other than a sink base unit.

Refrigerators

Shared use    
Two worktop height refrigerators with freezer compartments or one worktop height fridge and one worktop height freezer for five people or a worktop height refrigerator with a freezer compartment within each individual unit of accommodation.

Exclusive use    
A worktop height refrigerator with a freezer compartment.

Refuse

There should be suitable and sufficient provision for waste and recycling inside and outside.

Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation to the outside air at a minimum extraction rate of 60 litres per second or 30 litres per second if the fan is sited with 300mm of the centre of the hob.  This is in addition to any windows.

Minimum standards for bathrooms

For between one and four people there should be at least one bathroom and one toilet. There is no need for a sink in bedrooms. 

For five people there should be one sink in each bedroom as well as one bathroom and one separate toilet with a sink (the toilet can be in a second bathroom).      

For six to ten people one sink should be in each bedroom as well as two bathrooms and two separate toilets with sinks (one of the toilets can be contained within one of the bathrooms).

For 11 to 15 people one sink should be in each bedroom as well as three bathrooms and three separate toilets with sinks (but two of the toilets can be in two of the bathrooms).

Appeals

If your application is refused or you wish to appeal any conditions attached to a licence, any decision to vary or revoke a licence you can appeal to a residential property tribunal within 28 days of a decision being made. 

If you would like to appeal against a licence that has be granted you can do so to a residential property tribunal within 28 days of a decision being made.

You can find out how to appeal on the Government’s website about solving residential property disputes.