Housing Act 2004

76 Transitional arrangements relating to introduction and termination of licensing E+W

(1) Subsection (2) applies where—

(a) an order under section 55(3) which prescribes a particular description of HMOs comes into force; or

(b) a designation under section 56 comes into force in relation to HMOs of a particular description.

(2) This Part applies in relation to the occupation by persons or households of such HMOs on or after the coming into force of the order or designation even if their occupation began before, or in pursuance of a contract made before, it came into force.

This is subject to subsections (3) to (5).

(3) Subsection (4) applies where—

(a) an HMO which is licensed under this Part, or a part of such an HMO, is occupied by more households or persons than the number permitted by the licence; and

(b) the occupation of all or any of those households or persons began before, or in pursuance of a contract made before, the licence came into force.

(4) In proceedings against a person for an offence under section 72(2) it is a defence that at the material time he was taking all reasonable steps to try to reduce the number of households or persons occupying the house to the number permitted by the licence.

(5) Subsection (4) does not apply if the licence came into force immediately after a previous licence in respect of the same HMO unless the occupation in question began before, or in pursuance of a contract made before, the coming into force of the original licence.

(6) An order under section 270 may make provision as regards the licensing under this Part of HMOs—

(a) which are registered immediately before the appointed day under a scheme to which section 347 (schemes containing control provisions) or 348B (schemes containing special control provisions) of the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) applies, or

(b) in respect of which applications for registration under such a scheme are then pending.

(7) In subsection (6) “the appointed day” means the day appointed for the coming into force of section 61.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 76 wholly in force at 16.6.2006; s. 76 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 270(4)(5); s. 76 in force for E. at 6.4.2006 by S.I. 2006/1060, art. 2(1)(a) (with Sch.); s. 76 in force for W. at 16.6.2006 by S. I. 2006/1535, art. 2(a) (with Sch.)