Information about the health and safety standards and fire safety, including licence conditions
HMO licence conditions
We would suggest that you read the minimum standard HMO licence conditions before you apply for your HMO Licence. Please note; these conditions will be made bespoke to each property before the licence is granted.
View the HMO licence conditions
Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
In addition to the management legislation in our what is an HMO page, there's a further assessment system. It's used to evaluate other hazards or risks in a residential property, including a HMO. It’s called the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). And it’s set out in the Housing Act 2004.
Failure to comply with these standards can result in a criminal conviction.
You can find out more about the HHSRS on the GOV.UK website.
Amenity standards
The HMO must:
- be a suitable size (there are minimum room sizes) and have adequate facilities for the number of occupants
- have adequate cooking and washing facilities
- have communal and shared facilities that are clean and in good repair
We use a set of standards to satisfy the legal requirements. These are known as the amenity standards. They can be found at the bottom of this page.
If we identify any issues, you’ll be required to put these right.
Fire safety in HMOs
Before equipping an HMO with adequate and appropriate fire safety precautions, please refer to the documents below for guidance and information: