CPS Homes

What The Regulations For HMOs?

The mandatory regulations for all HMOs (whether or not you need a license) fall into 3 categories: Facilities, Fire Safety and Annual Certificates.

FACILITIES
  • 1 bathroom per 5 tenants. A bathroom can consist of a bath and/or separate shower but there must be 2 separate rooms if there are 6 or more tenants.
  • 1 W.C. per 5 tenants
  • 1 cooker per 5 tenants. However if you have 6 or 7 tenants, a microwave will be acceptable, for 8 or more tenants, a 2nd cooker must be provided.
  • 1 kitchen sink per 5 tenants. A dishwasher is acceptable for 6 or 7 tenants, but a 2nd sink must be provided for 8+.
  • There must be 3 double sockets in the kitchen without appliances plugged into them, plus one extra per 2 people over 6 tenants.
  • There must be an extractor fan in the kitchen.


    • FIRE SAFETY
  • Walls and ceilings must have at least 30mins fire protection (solid brick provides at least 1 hour). A basement ceiling must have 1 hour protection.
  • The correct fire/smoke alarm system must be fitted (this information was given by Electro-Main with the last newsletter—additional copies available upon request)
  • There must be a fire extinguisher situated on each floor of the property.
  • There must be a fire blanket in the kitchen.
  • The escape route must be clearly displayed.
  • All gas and electricity meters have 30 mins protection from the escape route.
  • All internal doors (apart from the bathroom) must be fitted with 30min fire doors (unless there is alternative means of escape from the room through an approved double glazed window)
  • All locks on internal doors must be able to be opened from the inside without a key (i.e. thumbturn style locks)


    • ANNUAL CERTIFICATES
    Every year you will be required to have the following safety certificates:
  • Gas—already required by law
  • Periodic Electrical—to check all of the wiring and electrics in the property
  • Smoke/Fire Alarm
  • Emergency Lighting (generally only for communal areas of flats or licensable HMOs)

    • 14 August 2006

    The information contained within this article was correct at the date of publishing and is not guaranteed to remain correct in the present day.

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