In Birmingham, UK, social housing can be a great option for those who cannot afford to buy their own homes or are not eligible for council housing. It’s important to understand that social housing may include Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), which are properties where at least three tenants live, forming more than one household, and they share toilet, bathroom, or kitchen facilities with other tenants. A household can be a single person or members of the same family who live together.

HMOs in Birmingham can take different forms, such as a house split into separate bedsits, a shared house or flat where the sharers are not members of the same family, a hostel, a bed-and-breakfast hotel that is not just for holidays, or shared accommodation for students. However, not all student accommodation owned by educational establishments is considered an HMO.

If you want to know the legal definition of an HMO, you can visit the National HMO Network website. All Cozy Homes Ltd HMOs in Birmingham are registered and inspected, giving residents the trust and confidence in the services provided. Cozy Homes Ltd HMOs meet the conditions for having a valid license from Birmingham City Council, which includes being occupied by five or more people, being home to two or more households, and having at least one shared amenity.

HMO legislation in Birmingham is detailed in the Housing Act 2004, and HMO owners or managers must comply with The Management Of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006. This includes providing their contact details to tenants and displaying them prominently in the HMO, taking safety measures such as maintaining firefighting equipment and fire alarms, providing and maintaining adequate water supply and drainage systems, providing an uninterrupted supply of gas and/or electricity, maintaining the common parts, living accommodation, fixtures and fittings in safe and good repair, and providing suitable and sufficient waste storage and disposal facilities. Cozy Homes Ltd ensures full compliance with HMO legislation in all of their properties.

Definition of a household
• A household is defined as being where members of the same family live together
• One family is a single household
• A couple sharing with a third person is classified as two households
• Three friends sharing would be three households

All Cozy Homes Ltd HMOs are registered with Birmingham City Council. This is to provide all our
residents with the trust and confidence with the services provided by Cozy Homes Ltd.
Cozy Homes Ltd may be subject to periodic inspection by the local council’s environmental health
services. The frequency of an HMO inspection is determined by the level of health and safety risks
at the property which are welcomed to ensure safety and compliance at all levels for our residents.

Every HMO with Cozy Homes Ltd which meets the following conditions has a valid licence from
Birmingham City Council. These properties include:
• It is occupied by five or more people
• It is home to two or more households
• At least one amenity (kitchen, bathroom or toilet) is shared.

HMO standards are detailed within the Housing Act 2004, but in particular, HMOs must comply with
the The Management Of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 whereby the
owner or manager must:
• Provide their contact details to tenants and display them prominently in the HMO
• Take safety measures including maintenance of firefighting equipment and fire alarms; keep
means of escape clear
• Provide and maintain adequate water supply and drainage systems
• Provide an interrupted supply of gas and/or electricity to the property. Supply a current gas
test certificate, if applicable by a recognised engineer. Provide a fixed electrical installation
certificate undertaken by a qualified person every 5 years
• Maintain the common parts, living accommodation, fixtures and fittings in safe and good
repair
• Provide suitable and sufficient waste storage and disposal facilities.
All Cozy Homes Ltd properties ensure full compliance with HMO legislation.