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Judge Rules Hotel Rooms Don't Qualify as Flats

12/31/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A judge ruled that plugging in a microwave does not qualify a room as a flat, resolving the dispute between Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the St George Hotel.
The council found 32 of the hotel's 62 rooms housed homeless individuals and did not meet self-contained flat criteria.
The ruling requires the building to be licensed as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) with stricter safety and housing standards.

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Story summary

A judge ruled that plugging in a microwave does not qualify a room as a flat, resolving the dispute between Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the St George Hotel.
The council found 32 of the hotel's 62 rooms housed homeless individuals and did not meet self-contained flat criteria.
The ruling requires the building to be licensed as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) with stricter safety and housing standards.