HMOs must provide accommodation that is safe, suitable, and adequately equipped for the number of people living at the property.
Landlords and managers are responsible for ensuring that HMOs are maintained in good repair and comply with all relevant housing, fire safety, and management requirements.
Standards your HMO must meet
All HMOs to meet both the national minimum standards and any locally adopted amenity and management standards.
Standards cover:
- Minimum bedroom sizes and occupancy limits.
- Kitchen, bathroom and toilet provision.
- Fire detection and alarm systems.
- Means of escape and fire separation.
- Heating, lighting and ventilation.
- Water supply, drainage and sanitation.
- Refuse and recycling storage arrangements.
- Property repair, maintenance and management.
- Electrical and gas safety.
- Prevention of overcrowding.
Compliance with these standards helps ensure that occupants have access to safe, healthy and well-managed accommodation.
For full details of the standards expected for HMOs you can view or download our HMO Standards Guide.
View or download our HMO Standards Guide
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
We use the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) to assess housing conditions and identify hazards that may affect the health and safety of occupants. HHSRS inspections apply to all residential properties, including HMOs.
Landlords and managers must ensure their properties are free from significant hazards and that all amenities, safety measures and fire precautions are properly maintained.
HHSRS inspections
We will carry out HHSRS inspections at least once during your 5-year licence. We inspect your property in response to complaints, or through our proactive inspection programme.
If we find any serious hazards, we may take enforcement action to make sure the occupants are safe.
Fire safety
You must make sure your HMO has suitable fire safety measures to protect residents and reduce the risk of fire. The fire precautions needed will depend on the size, layout and number of people living in the property.
This may include:
- A suitable fire alarm and detection system
- Safe escape routes in case of fire
- Fire-resistant doors
- Emergency lighting, where needed
- Fire-resistant walls, floors and ceilings to help stop fire spreading
You are responsible for making sure all fire safety measures are regularly checked, maintained and kept in working order.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires you to carry out a fire risk assessment. We recommend using a qualified fire risk assessor to complete this assessment for you.
Management regulations
The management regulations that apply to your HMO depend on the type of property:
- Shared facilities HMOs: Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006
- Section 257 HMOs: Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Additional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2007
You must follow the relevant management regulations whether your HMO needs a licence or not.
If you do not comply with these regulations, you could receive a civil penalty or face prosecution.