The Housing (Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Regulations 1990

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision for ensuring that the person managing a house in multiple occupation observes proper standards of management.

They come into force on 1st July 1990 and from that date the Housing (Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Regulations 1962 are revoked (regulation 17).

Regulation 2 varies the definition of “person managing” in section 398(6) of the Housing Act 1985 and that definition as so varied is used in these Regulations. The “person managing” is referred to in the Regulations as “the manager”.

The manager is required by the Regulations to ensure the repair, maintenance, cleansing or, as the case may be, good order of–

(a) all means of water supply and drainage in the house (regulation 4);

(b) parts of the house and installations in common use (regulations 6 and 7);

(c) living accommodation (regulation 8);

(d) windows and other means of ventilation (regulation 9);

(e) means of escape from fire and apparatus, systems, and other things provided by way of fire precautions (regulation 10);

(f) outbuildings, yards etc. in common use (regulation 11).

The manager is also required to–

(a) make satisfactory arrangements for the disposal of refuse and litter from the house (regulation 12);

(b) ensure the taking of reasonable precautions for the general safety of residents (regulation 13);

(c) display in the house a notice of the name, address and telephone number, if any, of the manager (regulation 14);

(d) provide specified information to the local housing authority about the occupancy of the house where the authority gives him written notice to that effect (regulation 15).

Regulation 16 imposes duties on persons who live in the house for the purpose of ensuring that the manager can effectively carry out the duties imposed on him by the Regulations.

Under section 369(5) of the 1985 Act, knowingly to contravene, or to fail without reasonable excuse to comply with, any of these Regulations will be an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.