HMO licensing could be extended to protect contract workers

New categories of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are under consideration in order to protect the rights of contract and transient workers.

Concerns have been raised with the Scottish Government regarding the accommodation that contract and transient workers reside in when they are required to work away from home, and ministers have opened a consultation on proposed new categories to be added to the definition – which would mean the properties caught being required to be licensed as HMOs.

A number of local authorities have highlighted that these workers are often found staying in a range of accommodation such as bed and breakfasts and holiday lets, on a long term basis, in circumstances that appear equivalent to the properties being used as HMOs.

The policy intention of the changes focuses on ensuring that such transient workers – who often have no choice as to where they stay when working away from home – are afforded the same health and safety rights as those who live in a shared rented property as their only or main residence.

Click here to access the consultation. The closing date for responses is 8 July 2019.