The Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

HMO grants: purposes for which grant may be given N.I.

58.—(1) The purposes for which an application for an HMO grant (other than a conversion application) may be approved are—

(a) to comply with a notice under Article 41 of the Order of 1981 (repair notices) or otherwise to render the house fit for human habitation;

[F1 (b) to comply with a requirement in a temporary exemption notice, a rectification notice or a hazard notice under the Act of 2016, to carry out works specified in a statement of remedial work under section 53 of that Act, or to make the house suitable for occupation as an HMO in accordance with section 13 of that Act;]

(c) to provide adequate facilities for space heating;

(d) to provide satisfactory internal arrangements;

(e) to provide means of escape in case of fire or other fire precautions, not being precautions required under or by virtue of any statutory provision (whenever made);

(f) to ensure that the house complies with such requirements with respect to construction or physical condition as may be specified by the Department;

(g) to ensure that there is compliance with such requirements with respect to the provision or condition of services and amenities to or within the house as are so specified;

(h) any other purpose for the time being specified for the purposes of this Article by order of the Department.

(2) The purpose for which a conversion application may be approved is to provide a house in multiple occupation by the conversion of a house or other building.

(3) If in the opinion of the Executive the relevant works are more or less extensive than is necessary to achieve any of the purposes set out in paragraph (1) or (2), the Executive may, with the consent of the applicant, treat the application as varied so that the relevant works are limited to or, as the case may be, include such works as seem to it to be necessary for that purpose.

(4) In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-paragraphs (f) and (g) of paragraph (1) the Department may specify requirements generally or for particular cases.

F1 Art. 58(1)(b) substituted (1.4.2019) by Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (c. 22), s. 90(2), Sch. 7 para. 6(4); S.R. 2019/39, art. 2 (with art. 3)