Written question asked by Jim Cousins (Labour) on Thursday, 16 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 June 2005. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 July 2005 on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

University Accommodation

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what decision has been made on whether accommodation (a) owned, (b) managed and (c) leased on behalf of universities and further education institutions will be exempt from the provisions of the Housing Act 2004.

Answer: Regulations may be made specifying that certain accommodation managed by universities or other higher education establishments are not houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) for any purposes of the Housing Act 2004 (except part 1), and therefore not subject to the HMO licensing requirements. When deciding whether to exempt such accommodation from the licensing requirements, regard may be had to the extent to which the establishment is in conformity with any approved code of management practice.Discussions with Universities UK and the Accreditation Network UK are well advanced on finalising the provisions of such a code, and compliance with it, by the end of July. This will enable any exceptions from HMO licensing to be in place when, as expected, the licensing provisions come into force in October.

Secondary information