Houses of Multiple Occupation and Selective Licensing

The aim of this book is to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the law relating to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 that local authorities environmental health practitioners use to regulate this sector. This book emerged from a set of course notes developed for a course on HMO property but took on a life of its own as the law has become increasingly complex. The law on HMOs is constantly evolving as its practical and actual application and effect on landlords is heavily dependent on the way it is interpreted by the Tribunals. This book also addresses the 2016 Housing and Planning Act, includes up-to-date key cases, and discusses how they interpret and develop the law. It also explores the limits and weaknesses of the law and the competing interpretations of key passages to illustrate where the current debates are and how they might be resolved. This book is aimed at a professional audience spread across the housing sector with enough detail to satisfy experienced environmental health and other professionals and extensive footnotes to enable further research. Other officers - housing advisers, landlords, agents - who are newer to the subject of housing law will find this a detailed introduction to the basics.

Neli Borisova is a solicitor specialising in residential property litigation. She is an associate at JMW Solicitors LLP in London. Neli advises landlords, tenants, and estate and letting agents on all aspects of residential property law.

David Smith is a solicitor specialising in residential property, agency, and regulatory law. He is a partner at JMW Solicitors LLP in London. He is well known for his work in the residential property and agency field, especially in property licensing and consumer law, and has advised local and national governments, large and small landlords, and tenants and letting and estate agents across the sector. David co-wrotethe first book on the Housing Act 2004 when he was a trainee solicitor.