HMO Management and Compliance Documents, Templates and Guidance for Residential Landlords in England
Landlords managing Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) must be aware of their legal responsibilities when managing a tenancy. These responsibilities can include:
- Ensuring their properties are safe and habitable
- Ensuring the correct licences are in place
- Ensuring they have undertaken safety checks
- Protecting any tenancy deposit paid by tenants within the required time frame
- Keeping up to date with changing landlord and tenant legislation and regulations
- Property maintenance and improvements
Having access to the right documentation at the right time is essential for effective HMO tenancy management.
Managing Your Property
Many landlords choose to appoint managing agents to look after their rental properties. Others prefer a more hands-on approach, maintaining a direct relationship with their tenants. Whichever route a landlord chooses, the range of documentation can be extensive.
As a starting point landlords should download the Guidance on HMOs and Licensing (England) which looks at the licencing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), an overview of requirements set out in The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 ( including Fire Safety), and additional considerations for landlords with HMOs.
For comprehensive guidance on residential landlord compliance please refer to Residential Tenancy Compliance Documents and Templates.
The HMO Landlord Health and Safety Policy is designed to help owners of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) fulfil their health and safety responsibilities towards their tenants.
Landlords or managers of HMOs in England must comply with The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 and can choose from a selection of documents to assist in compliance with these Regulations, such as Notice: Contact Information HMO Landlord or Manager, and HMO Notice for Display for Occupiers (England).
Please select from the options below:
- Guidance Note: HMOs and Licensing (England)
- HMO Landlord Health & Safety Policy
- Rubbish and Recycling Policy for Occupiers (England)
- Letter to HMO Occupier Providing Manager’s Contact Details (England)
- Notice to Display in HMO Setting Out Manager’s Contact Details (England)
- Letter to Tenant in HMO: Occupiers Duties (England)
- Notice for Display in HMO: Occupiers Duties (England)
- Letter to HMO Occupier Providing Fire Safety Instructions & Fire Door Instructions (England)
- Example of HMO Fire Safety Information to Be Provided to Tenant
- Letter Sending HMO Gas Test Certificate to Local Housing Authority (England)
HMO Management and Compliance Documents, Templates and Guidance for Residential Landlords in England is part of Property. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Property for 1 year.
Frequently Asked Questions
A property is generally an HMO where three or more people from more than one household live there and share facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. A separate rule applies to mandatory licensing. An HMO will usually require a mandatory licence where five or more people from two or more households live there and share facilities. A household generally means one person living alone or member of the same family. If you let rooms individually to unrelated tenants who share facilities, the property is likely to be an HMO and you should heck the licensing and management requirements that apply in your local authority area.
A large HMO of five or more people in two or more households needs a mandatory licence from the council. Some councils add additional or selective licensing for smaller properties, so check locally. Operating a licensable HMO without a licence is a criminal offence: you can face an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to 30,000 pounds, and the tenants or council can seek a rent repayment order for up to twelve months' rent.
HMOs have additional management duties under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006. The person managing the property must keep the HMO properly maintained and managed, including displaying their contact details in a prominent place, keeping common areas, fixtures, fittings and installations in good repair, maintaining appropriate fire safety measures and managing waste arrangements. Landlords and managers must also ensure that water supplies, drainage and shared facilities are kept in proper working order. Failing to comply with HMO management duties can result in enforcement action and, in some cases, criminal penalties. The HMO notices and health and safety policy here help you meet and evidence these duties.
More than a single let. HMOs typically need interlinked fire alarms, fire doors, clear escape routes and emergency lighting, with the exact standard depending on size and the council's conditions. The 2006 management regulations require you to keep all fire safety measures in good order, and a licence will impose further conditions. A fire risk assessment of the shared areas under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is essential.
The Renters' Rights Act doesn’t make changes to specific HMO requirements like licensing or management regulations which continue to apply separately. The Act changes the tenancy structure with a removal of fixed terms and ending Section 21 no-fault evictions. Keep licensing, safety and tenancy compliance running together.