There are new rules coming into effect from 1st October 2018 that change the definition of a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Above: Summary of the new HMO Rules, coming into effect on 1st October 2018

Currently, an HMO generally refers to one of the following:

• A house split into bedsits
• A house or flatshare where each tenant has their own tenancy agreement
• Students living in shared accommodation

Under the new rules, an HMO will be a property that is:

• occupied by five or more persons;
• occupied by persons living in two or more separate households

Full details of the changes can be found in the “The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018”, which can be read in full here.

It is expected that these new rules will increase the number of properties that need an HMO Licence from their Local Authority.

This is where Victoria Forms can help!

We supply a comprehensive online solution, which handles new applications as well as renewals.

Our template HMO form can be easily and immediately branded to your authority, and is compatible with a selection of Add-On Modules and Integrations to enhance the customer journey.

 

Above: HMO Application for Westminster City Council

 

Enhance your HMO Solution with our range of Add-On Modules and Integrations:

Attachments/Evidence Upload

• Allow applicants to attach supporting documentation directly to their HMO Application

Payment Integration

• Allow applicants to pay at the point of submission using your Authoritiy’s payment system of choice

Document System Integration

• Automate completed PDFs directly into your Document System

Address Lookup

• Provide applicants with the facility to look up their address for improved accuracy

Licence Lookup (Idox Uniform)

• For Renewals, applicants can enter their existing Licence Number and retrieve details for a quick and easy renewal process

Back Office Integration (Idox Uniform)

• Integrate Data directly into the Idox Uniform Back Office System, removing the need to rekey data

 

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For further details about how Victoria Forms can help, contact VFsales@victoriaforms.com or call 01284 701000

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Under the Legislation, Local Authorities are classified as a ‘Data Controller’ and Victoria Forms are classified as a ‘Data Processor’.

Article 4 defines data controllers and data processors as follows:

(7) ‘controller’ means the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data; where the purposes and means of such processing are determined by Union or Member State law, the controller or the specific criteria for its nomination may be provided for by Union or Member State law;

 (8) ‘processor’ means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller;

Under the Legislation, Data Processors will have some additional responsibilities. To prepare for this, Victoria Forms are making some updates to our system, and we are also contacting our Local Authority customers to provide some additional advice around data retention and form changes.

To request a copy of the Victoria Forms GDPR Bulletin, please contact lynsey.atkin@victoriaforms.co.uk

Further Resources & Useful Guidance:

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr

https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents/1624219/preparing-for-the-gdpr-12-steps.pdf

https://ico.org.uk/media/about-the-ico/consultations/2013551/draft-gdpr-consent-guidance-for-consultation-201703.pdf

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