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HMO Checklist

This checklist will be useful in preparing your HMO property for the market. We can assist you in obtaining property certificates and getting your property market-ready as needed.

Your property will require a HMO licence if;

  • five or more tenants live in the property and
  • these tenants are split into two or more unrelated ‘households’
  • these tenants share facilities such as a bathroom and/or kitchen

A new licence condition also introduces minimum bedroom sizes for HMO properties;

  • for a child under 10 years of age - 4.64m²
  • for any single person over 10 years of age - 6.51m²
  • for two people - 10.22m²
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Certificates/Safety Requirements

Non-Licensable HMO

  • Energy performance certificate (EPC)
  • Gas safety certificate (GSC)
  • Electrical installation condition report (EICR)
  • Smoke alarms (one per habitable floor)
  • CO detectors (in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance)
  • Selective landlord licence from local authority (if local authority run such a scheme, not required if property requires a HMO licence)

Licensable HMO

In addition to the above;

  • HMO licence from local authority
  • If there are more than 6 bedrooms, planning permission is required in addition to the HMO licence
  • Portable appliance test certificate (PAT)
  • Fire alarm installation/service certificate
  • Emergency lighting installation/service certificate
  • Fire risk assessment
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Property
  • Fully furnished (we highly recommend some soft furnishings for at least the initial viewings stage. For example, bedding, decorative accessories, place settings, etc)
  • Window coverings (blinds or curtains) to at least all bedrooms but ideally all rooms
  • Bedroom door numbers present
  • All final exit doors to have internal thumbturn locks
  • Front door keys hung in an external combination key safe
  • Room keys hung in a lockable internal key cabinet
  • Instructions on how to test the fire alarm and emergency lighting systems
  • Wheelie bins provided and labelled with the property address (to help prevent theft)
  • TV to communal area (if applicable, recommended but not essential)
  • Fire blanket in the kitchen(s)
  • Microwave, kettle and toaster to kitchen(s)
  • Notice board erected by the main entrance door (minimum size of 120 cm x 90 cm)
  • Internet connection along with details of network name and password
  • Check WiFi reaches all rooms and communal areas of the property
  • Cleaning contract/schedule for communal areas
  • Program any heating timers/thermostats and check all radiators are working
  • Check all hot water outlets are working and there are no leaks (taps, showers, etc)
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Eastbourne HMO licensing