Managing houses in multiple occupation

Landlords and managing agents of HMOs must comply with the duties set out in the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.

Management information

You must display the name, address and a contact telephone number for the manager clearly in a prominent position within the HMO.

Fire safety measures

You must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and make sure people can escape safely if there is a fire.

You must:

• keep all fire escape routes safe and free from obstruction
• maintain and certificate all alarms, detection and extinguishers
• display appropriate fire escape signs if more than 4 people occupy the premises
• make sure furniture meets fire safety requirements

You must carry out a fire risk assessment. There are guidance documents available to help with this from LACORS and Homestamp.

If you can't apply the guidance or if the premises are complex, you may need to seek independent expert advice to help with your risk assessment.

Water, gas and electricity

You must maintain water supply and drainage. You must supply and maintain gas and electricity.

You must follow gas safety regulations.

You must arrange for fixed electrical installation to be inspected and tested at intervals of no more than 5 years. You must supply certificates to the local authority within 7 days of a request. Read the Electrical Safety Council's guide to electrical safety for landlords.

Fixtures, fittings and appliances

You must maintain all services and fittings in good, clean working order and free from frost damage.

You must keep all common parts, fixtures, fittings and appliances clean, in good repair and in good working order. This includes:

• gas and electric
• lighting
• heating and hot water
• toilets, baths, and wash-basins
• sinks, cookers, fridges, and food storage
• windows and ventilation
• yards, paths and gardens

Living accommodation

Each room must be kept in good repair and installations in good working order.

You must make sure each room is clean at the beginning of the tenant’s occupation.

Suitability for occupation

You must make sure that you provide an adequate range, number and size of rooms to avoid overcrowding.

You can refer to our amenity standards document for details.

You must provide and maintain amenities such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Bathrooms for up to four tenants

There must be:

• at least one bathroom and toilet (which can be in the bathroom)
• where reasonably practicable a wash hand basin with appropriate splash back in each bedroom that is occupied separately

Bathrooms for five or more tenants

There must be:

• at least one bathroom for every 5 people
• a separate toilet for every 5 people
• where reasonably practicable a wash hand basin with appropriate splash back in each bedroom that is occupied separately

Disposal of refuse and litter

Waste must not be allowed to accumulate. You must provide the right number and types of bins to meet the needs of the tenants.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

From 1 October 2022, you must make sure carbon monoxide alarms are installed in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, excluding gas cookers.

Providing food

If you plan to provide food to your tenants, you must register as a food establishment business.

Amenity standards

Download the full document of minimum property and management standards for HMOs in the borough.

Legislation

You can see the Statutory Instrument for HMOs on the Office of Public Sector Information webpage - Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.

Penalties

Failure to comply with any of the above requirements can result in prosecution with an unlimited fine. Or we can issue the responsible person with a civil penalty fine of up to £30,000 for each offence.