[sims]

IIRC, fire regs say that it needs to be possible to open the doors from the inside without a key, even when locked, meaning it needs to be one of those thumb-turn locks or something similar.

If the locks they happen to have installed are different (i.e. a 'normal' lock), they probably can't give you keys for your rooms due to fire regs because their locks are non-compliant.. although the underlying reason is that they can't be bothered to install the correct type of lock rather than locks being against fire regs on principle.

[My Name Is ??]

The lack of AST would indicate that the LL isn't properly registered as a HMO and is trying to get around this by keeping his 'tenants' as lodgers.

I live in HMO properly done - all rooms have locks which can be unlocked from the inside. Hardwired fire alarms. Fire extinguishers and blankets. Even the PAT testing is done. The agreement between myself and the LL is an AST and my deposit is in the DPS.

[inflating]

Spoke to another agent today, they said to me if it's a houseshare then the landlord is covering their ass with this keys business, so as to avoid having to register it as a HMO which hasto have fire doors etc

[cartimandua51]

My Name Is ??, on 19 October 2011 - 08:28 PM, said:

The lack of AST would indicate that the LL isn't properly registered as a HMO and is trying to get around this by keeping his 'tenants' as lodgers.

I live in HMO properly done - all rooms have locks which can be unlocked from the inside. Hardwired fire alarms. Fire extinguishers and blankets. Even the PAT testing is done. The agreement between myself and the LL is an AST and my deposit is in the DPS.

Only if he's dim / ill advised / hasn't read the legislation. Lodgers still count as households unless they are family, though I believe you can have two of them. Would have to dig around for the exact link, but the legislators did try very hard to make difficult to wriggle out of the HMO definition.

[Mfee]

Frank Hovis, on 18 October 2011 - 11:05 PM, said:

It'a rubbish. Everybody has their own room with a lock on it. My company rents these out, there is no way we would deny anybody the right to lock their door.

Hi my name is Mike and I’m in need of help with my dissertation. I am looking for landlord volunteers to fill out a simple questionnaire which will take no more than 5 minutes. I’m doing my dissertation on mandatory licencing for HMOs and am trying to get a landlords point of view. The questionnaire is 100% anonymous.
Please click on the following link and it will take you straight to it: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/97Y3SMC
Your time will be much appreciated

Kind Regards
Mike

[Mfee]

Hi my name is Mike and I’m in need of help with my dissertation. I am looking for landlord volunteers to fill out a simple questionnaire which will take no more than 5 minutes. I’m doing my dissertation on mandatory licencing for HMOs and am trying to get a landlords point of view. The questionnaire is 100% anonymous.
Please click on the following link and it will take you straight to it: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/97Y3SMC
Your time will be much appreciated

Kind Regards
Mike

[inflating]

Mfee, on 20 March 2012 - 12:07 PM, said:

Hi my name is Mike and I’m in need of help with my dissertation. I am looking for landlord volunteers to fill out a simple questionnaire which will take no more than 5 minutes. I’m doing my dissertation on mandatory licencing for HMOs and am trying to get a landlords point of view. The questionnaire is 100% anonymous.
Please click on the following link and it will take you straight to it: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/97Y3SMC
Your time will be much appreciated

Kind Regards
Mike

try landlordzone

[ChumpusRex]

inflating, on 18 October 2011 - 10:31 PM, said:

Is this now law? That sharers in a HMO cannot have room keys due to it being against the fire regs?

True?

No. This is false.

The law is that the doors (to the rooms) and to the front door, must have a means of "emergency egress". In other words, they should not be able to stop someone getting out in an emergency. The most practical way of doing this is to install a lock which can be turned from the inside without a key.

Insurance grade locks (BS 3621 as are recommended for front doors) are specifically required to block egress (so cannot be opened from the inside without a key). The idea being is that if you can stop a thief from getting out through a door, they'll think twice before trying to hump stuff out of a window.

The problem here is likely that the landlord has installed the wrong type of locks (probably fitting insurance approved locks to the individual room doors), and does not want to change them for the correct type.

[Frank Hovis]

Mfee, on 20 March 2012 - 12:07 PM, said:

Hi my name is Mike and I’m in need of help with my dissertation. I am looking for landlord volunteers to fill out a simple questionnaire which will take no more than 5 minutes. I’m doing my dissertation on mandatory licencing for HMOs and am trying to get a landlords point of view. The questionnaire is 100% anonymous.
Please click on the following link and it will take you straight to it: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/97Y3SMC
Your time will be much appreciated

Kind Regards
Mike

Had a quick look Mike but not really applicable as I'm with a registered provider running HMOs as part of SP contracts so they are already regulated to the nth degree, didn't want to skew your stats. Will populate if you want but it seems to be aimed at private landlords.