Lister has five large flats that provide shared housing for single people. We call these flats ‘Multis’. We have four 4-bed Multis and one 6-bed Multi. They provide housing for 22 single people in total.
What Are Multis?
The flats are unfurnished (though Lister does provide a gas cooker). They may have some items of furniture or equipment which have been left for re-use by previous tenants, or have been bought communally by the flat sharers.
The flats are registered with the City of Edinburgh Council as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and must comply with the stringent conditions of such HMO licences (or they will be closed down). Tenants must co-operate with all the requirements needing to be met for the licence.
Who Can Live In Our Multis?
The housing is for single persons only – it is not for couples, nor for those with a child. There is no support service attached to these flats. Each person has their own bedroom and share the kitchen and other communal space (bathroom/toilet, living space).
Each single person allocated a space has their own tenancy and must apply for, be accepted and take up co-operative membership. Each tenancy agreement has a ‘joint and several’ agreement with the other tenants/tenancy agreements in the same flat. This means each person is jointly responsible for the obligations of the tenancy including paying the rent. If there is vacant room then the remaining tenants have to pay the total rental still for the whole flat, i.e. pay for the empty room until it is relet.
Rents include the council tax and water/sewerage rates and are still very affordable compared to private sector rents and purpose built shared accommodation e.g. student flats. Rents are between £165 – £195 per person per month (including council tax).
How To Apply For A Multi Place
You need to request a Multi application form from the Lister office, complete and sign it and return it to Lister. We shall acknowledge it.
The process of allocating a vacancy in a Multi flat includes the following:
- Lister staff must verify an applicant’s circumstances and housing need.
- The remaining tenants are looking for a flat-mate who will fit in reasonably with the flat. These existing tenants will be given a copy of the front and back pages of your application form if they wish to consider your application.
- The Lister staff and the existing tenants will agree a shortlist from those being considered. The tenants will typically meet with the applicant.
- The successful applicant must apply for, be accepted and take up membership.
A shared flat tenancy should not be seen as a short cut route to a self-contained Lister flat tenancy.
