HMO property management in England can be confusing, with numerous regulations to comply with. In this landlord’s guide to HMO compliance, we look at what you need to know about effective HMO management in the UK, covering everything from HMO licensing requirements to HMO safety regulations so that you can remain within the law while maximizing HMO investment.

The Importance Of HMO Compliance For Landlords

Investing in a HMO in England  can be a lucrative option for landlords. However, there are numerous regulations and rules that must be complied with. This is to protect HMO tenants’ rights and to prevent them from living in unsafe conditions. The rules ensure that tenants can enjoy a comfortable standard of living with satisfactory facilities, enough living space and reduced fire risks.

Specific Rules For HMO Property Management

The 2004 Housing Act sets out HMO legal obligations that all landlords must comply with. These include laws regarding deposit protections among other aspects and apply to all types of HMO properties in England.

HMO landlords also have further responsibilities to meet, covering elements such as:

• Duty of care for tenants including HMO maintenance requirements for communal facilities and areas.
• Provision of sufficient ventilation, water, and natural lighting for tenants.
• Provision of adequate toilet, refuse, and kitchen facilities for the number of tenants.
• Furniture and furnishing installation including electrical installation inspections every 5 years.
• Measures to ensure HMO fire safety standards including provision of smoke alarms, maintenance of accessible escape routes, and assessment of fire risks.
• HMO energy efficiency regulations.
• HMO overcrowding regulations including minimum room sizes.

If you are considering turning a property into a house of multiple occupation, you must adhere to all the up-to-date HMO conversion regulations, or you could find that you receive a fine or have your licence revoked.

To help you, here’s a guide to some of the main regulations:

What Is The Minimum Room Size For HMOs?

All HMOs must meet minimum bedroom sizes of 6.51 square metres for anybody aged over 10 years and 4.64 square metres for those aged under 10. If two people share one room, it cannot be smaller than 10.22 square metres. No room with a floor space of under 4.64 square metres may be used as a sleeping space, and rooms with ceiling heights of under 1.5 metres do not count towards minimum room sizes.

HMO Regulations For Fire Safety

All HMOs in England must have smoke alarms on each level, linked together to ensure they will all be activated in the event of a fire. Fire extinguishers must be placed in all rooms with potential fire hazards, and there may also be local HMO regulation differences to comply with. You should always check with the HMO enforcement officer in England to ensure you’re meeting the standards in England. For example, you may need to add fire doors, provide fire blankets, install carbon monoxide alarms, or replace door locks and handles with certain types for maximum safety.

Electrical Safety For HMO Landlords

All HMO landlords are legally obliged to ensure all electrical equipment and appliances that they provide are safe. Therefore, they need to obtain an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) from either a qualified electrician or an approved contractor. Electrical checks must be carried out once every five years at a minimum.

Gas Safety For HMOs

All residential landlords must ensure the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their rental properties in England are safe and maintained with annual safety checks performed by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer. HMO landlords must keep a Gas Safety Certificate since it may be requested by the local authority and when applying for a licence.

Maintaining Compliance: Effective HMO Property Management in England  

Passing HMO inspections and maintaining compliance with all the legal regulations and requirements couldn’t be more important for HMO landlords.

With help from a HMO property management company in England, many elements of running your HMO can be streamlined and simplified.

To find out more about how we can make your life easier, get in touch with the team at The HMO Network today on 01245 835859 or at neil@charlesdavidcasson.co.uk.