- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Housing Act 2004, Section 254 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 14 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
(1)For the purposes of this Act a building or a part of a building is a “house in multiple occupation” if—
(a)it meets the conditions in subsection (2) (“the standard test”);
(b)it meets the conditions in subsection (3) (“the self-contained flat test”);
(c)it meets the conditions in subsection (4) (“the converted building test”);
(d)an HMO declaration is in force in respect of it under section 255; or
(e)it is a converted block of flats to which section 257 applies.
(2)A building or a part of a building meets the standard test if—
(a)it consists of one or more units of living accommodation not consisting of a self-contained flat or flats;
(b)the living accommodation is occupied by persons who do not form a single household (see section 258);
(c)the living accommodation is occupied by those persons as their only or main residence or they are to be treated as so occupying it (see section 259);
(d)their occupation of the living accommodation constitutes the only use of that accommodation;
(e)rents are payable or other consideration is to be provided in respect of at least one of those persons' occupation of the living accommodation; and
(f)two or more of the households who occupy the living accommodation share one or more basic amenities or the living accommodation is lacking in one or more basic amenities.
(3)A part of a building meets the self-contained flat test if—
(a)it consists of a self-contained flat; and
(b)paragraphs (b) to (f) of subsection (2) apply (reading references to the living accommodation concerned as references to the flat).
(4)A building or a part of a building meets the converted building test if—
(a)it is a converted building;
(b)it contains one or more units of living accommodation that do not consist of a self-contained flat or flats (whether or not it also contains any such flat or flats);
(c)the living accommodation is occupied by persons who do not form a single household (see section 258);
(d)the living accommodation is occupied by those persons as their only or main residence or they are to be treated as so occupying it (see section 259);
(e)their occupation of the living accommodation constitutes the only use of that accommodation; and
(f)rents are payable or other consideration is to be provided in respect of at least one of those persons' occupation of the living accommodation.
(5)But for any purposes of this Act (other than those of Part 1) a building or part of a building within subsection (1) is not a house in multiple occupation if it is listed in Schedule 14.
(6)The appropriate national authority may by regulations—
(a)make such amendments of this section and sections 255 to 259 as the authority considers appropriate with a view to securing that any building or part of a building of a description specified in the regulations is or is not to be a house in multiple occupation for any specified purposes of this Act;
(b)provide for such amendments to have effect also for the purposes of definitions in other enactments that operate by reference to this Act;
(c)make such consequential amendments of any provision of this Act, or any other enactment, as the authority considers appropriate.
(7)Regulations under subsection (6) may frame any description by reference to any matters or circumstances whatever.
(8)In this section—
“basic amenities” means—
a toilet,
personal washing facilities, or
cooking facilities;
“converted building” means a building or part of a building consisting of living accommodation in which one or more units of such accommodation have been created since the building or part was constructed;
“enactment” includes an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30);
“self-contained flat” means a separate set of premises (whether or not on the same floor)—
which forms part of a building;
either the whole or a material part of which lies above or below some other part of the building; and
in which all three basic amenities are available for the exclusive use of its occupants.
Commencement Information
I1S. 254 wholly in force at 18.1.2005; s. 254 in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent and in force otherwise at 18.1.2005, see s. 270(2)(b)(3)(a)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: