HMO Requirements and Regulations

What is an HMO?

A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a residential property with shared facilities, such as a kitchen or bathroom. As a communal living space, it offers a more cost-effective way for individuals to rent somewhere instead of having to pay a high rent for a property on their own. It also provides a sense of community for the residents.

For you as a landlord, you have the opportunity to earn a higher rental income than for a standard rental property. This is because each tenant pays separate rent so you can charge more per tenant on that basis. This is different from renting to a single household, such as a couple or family, where you are limited as to what you can charge. As each tenant pays rent, the risk of non-payment is also reduced compared with having a normal rental property.

Definition of an HMO 

An HMO is defined as a property that meets both of these conditions:

• There are at least three occupants, forming more than one household
• There are shared facilities, such as a kitchen, bathroom or toilet

A ‘household’ is defined as a single person, a couple (whether married or living together), relatives or half-relatives of either member of the couple, step-parents and step-children, foster parents and foster children, a live-in carer or a live-in domestic worker.

A large HMO is one that has five or more occupants who form more than one household and share facilities, such as a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. If you own a large HMO, you need to obtain a mandatory licence from the local council. If you have a smaller HMO, a licence may be required by the local council depending on the licensing schemes they operate. It’s important to check this because operating an HMO without a licence when one is required is a criminal offence.

Section 257 HMO

A Section 257 HMO is a building that has been completely converted into self-contained flats that don’t meet the standards set out in the 1991 Building Regulations and less than two-thirds of the flats are owner-occupied. This type of property doesn’t fall under the HMO classification for council tax purposes.

The pros and cons of an HMO property

HMOs can offer significant benefits to landlords, particularly in terms of the rental yield compared with standard buy-to-let properties. However, they also involve a lot more work and upfront expense and there are numerous regulations to comply with. It’s important to weigh up the pros and cons carefully if you’re considering an HMO investment.

The pros

A higher rental income

As you can charge rent per room for an HMO instead of a set sum for the property as a whole, the potential rental yield is considerably higher. With the right location, such as near transportation hubs in cities for professionals or close to universities for students, operating an HMO can be a very profitable enterprise.

Less risk of rent arrears

As each tenant pays rent rather than the group as a whole, the risk of rent arrears is lowered. Even if one tenant defaults on their rent, you’ll still receive rent from the other tenants so won’t be left completely out of pocket. That way, you have more stability and can rely on a steady income.

Steady demand

HMOs are extremely popular with different types of tenants, allowing you to benefit from a regular need for rooms. This is especially the case if your property is located near good transportation links, making it ideal for professionals, or a university, so that the rooms are quickly filled with students.

Fewer void periods

With a standard rental property, you invariably have void periods between tenancies. This leaves your property standing empty while you advertise for new tenants and you have a lack of rental income during that time. With an HMO, however, you’re more likely to have the odd room that becomes vacant every now and then, meaning you’ll still receive rent for the occupied rooms.

The cons

Higher costs upfront

The costs to get an HMO property ready before tenants move in are higher than for a standard rental property. This is because you need to meet certain health and safety requirements, such as providing fire safety equipment, installing emergency lighting (if applicable), supplying adequate amenities and obtaining an HMO licence, if required.

Strict regulations

Specific regulations for HMOs must be adhered to, ensuring that health and safety standards are met. Safety certificates must be provided when necessary and your property may need a licence. Failure to meet HMO regulations can result in severe penalties. 

A higher turnover of tenants

The tenant turnover for an HMO can be more frequent than for a standard rental property. This means that you’ll have empty rooms in your property that you’ll need to advertise again. This can be time-consuming and you’ll need to pay extra marketing costs.

Increased management and maintenance

As an HMO landlord, you have additional management and maintenance responsibilities compared with managing a standard rental property. We’ll detail these later on in this guide. The extra responsibilities can be both time-consuming and costly.

More wear and tear

A mixed group of tenants sharing a property tend not to look after items as well as a single household, such as a family, would. As such, items can be subject to more wear and tear. As well as that, there’s usually a higher turnover of tenants, adding to the usage of items in your property.  

More difficult to finance and insure

Due to the perceived risk of an HMO, you need specialist finance and insurance. An HMO mortgage, for example, caters to multiple tenancies under the mortgage terms, which is different from a buy-to-let mortgage. HMO insurance allows for the increased risk of damage relating to multiple occupants compared to a single household and the increased risk of fire and theft. It also protects you with property owners’ liability cover and unoccupied property insurance as well as various optional add-ons that you can choose from.

HMO landlord responsibilities

HMOs are traditionally perceived as being student accommodation or rental properties of low quality that offer sub-standard housing conditions. However, that’s no longer the case as rigorous health and safety regulations have to be adhered to and HMO landlords are required to meet various obligations. HMOs are now viewed as a way for individuals to live together in good-quality accommodation that offers a community environment. Very popular with working professionals too, HMOs offer convenience and flexibility without the high price tag of individuals renting a property by themselves.

As a landlord of any rental property, you have legal responsibilities, such as protecting the deposits collected from your tenants, having an annual gas safety check carried out, ensuring the property complies with the rules for energy efficiency and carrying out property maintenance when needed. As an HMO landlord, not only do you need to meet the standard legal responsibilities but there are additional obligations to adhere to. The management responsibilities in relation to an HMO are detailed below.

Contact information

Contact details for the person dealing with the property management must be displayed in a prominent position in the property. These details need to include the manager’s name, address and telephone number.

Maintenance and repairs for communal areas and facilities

All communal areas and facilities must be kept clean, clear and in good order. This includes areas such as hallways, staircases, corridors, lobbies, entrances, passageways, balconies, gardens, yards, outbuildings, paths and steps, etc. They need to be kept clear from obstruction and maintained in good, clean and decorative repair. Examples of facilities within the communal areas include banisters, handrails, ventilation and lighting.

Gas safety check

Every year, a gas safety check must be carried out by a registered engineer. A gas safety certificate needs to be issued confirming that the gas appliances have been inspected and meet the required safety standards. If applicable, a copy of the gas safety certificate needs to be provided to the local council each year.

Electrical installation inspection

Every 5 years, an inspection and test of the electrical installation must be carried out by a registered electrical engineer. This is to ensure that it meets the required safety standards. The inspection includes checking that the electrical installation is not overloaded, there are no risks of electric shock, there isn’t a lack of bonding or earthing, there isn’t any defective electrical work and there are no potential fire hazards. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) must be obtained to confirm that the inspection has been carried out. The local council may require a copy of this report.

Gas and electricity supplies

Under HMO management regulations, the property manager must not unreasonably interrupt the gas or electricity supply.

Avoid overcrowding issues

It’s important to ensure that the property isn’t overcrowded. To avoid this, HMOs must meet regulations concerning minimum room sizes. We’ll detail these later on in this guide.

Waste disposal facilities

A sufficient number of waste bins must be provided in accordance with the number of tenants living in the property. Suitable arrangements have to be made for the storage of litter and refuse pending disposal as well as for the disposal of litter and refuse. The latter applies to the collection service provided by the local council. For a licensed HMO, a condition is included in the licence by the local council regarding compliance with their arrangements for waste disposal and collection.

Fire safety measures

A fire risk assessment must be carried out to ensure that your property meets the safety standards. This assessment identifies fire hazards, highlights the removal and reduction of risks, assesses the risk for occupants, etc. All escape routes must be accessible, maintained and kept free from obstruction. Notices relating to the location of the escape routes must be displayed in the HMO property and be clearly visible to all occupants. Carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms must be fitted and kept in good working order. Firefighting equipment must also be provided and maintained in good working order. Where applicable, emergency lighting must be installed, tested and maintained.

Water supply and drainage

The water supply and drainage must be maintained. The fittings and services have to be kept in good condition and clean working order. In particular, any cistern, tank or similar receptacle that’s used for storing water for drinking or other domestic purposes must be kept in clean, working and good condition. A cover must be placed over it to ensure that the water is kept clean. Water fittings must also be protected against frost damage. The property manager must not unreasonably permit or cause interruption to the water or drainage supply used by the occupants. A risk assessment needs to be carried out to ascertain any risk from Legionella in the water supply system.

Lighting and ventilation

Adequate natural lighting and ventilation must be provided. Natural lighting and ventilation are essential in all habitable rooms. Where possible, natural lighting should be provided in kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, staircases, landings and passages. There should be provision for electric lighting in all areas. All light switches must be easily accessible. The property must be well-ventilated to prevent the growth of mould and damp. All windows must open correctly and permanent ventilation must be provided in rooms with an open flue gas appliance.

Cooking and washing facilities

Adequate facilities for the number of occupants must be provided for cooking, laundry and washing purposes. These facilities must be well-maintained. Functioning locks must be provided for bathrooms and toilets.

Clean conditions for a new rental period

For each new occupation of the HMO property, the internal areas and facilities, including items of furniture, must be clean. The internal structure, windows, appliances and fixtures and fittings must be in clean working order and in good repair.

Council tax and utility bills

If you rent out your HMO property to a group of tenants, they’ll be jointly liable to pay the council tax. Some tenants are exempt from this, such as students. If you rent out individual rooms, however, you’ll be responsible for paying the council tax. This also applies to paying the utility bills. When letting individual rooms, you may consider incorporating the cost for this in the rent to keep things simple.

HMO occupant responsibilities

Occupants of HMO properties also have responsibilities to adhere to. They must:

• Refrain from hindering the property manager in carrying out their duties
• Allow the manager to enter any living accommodation at a reasonable time to carry out their duties necessary under the regulations
• At the manager’s request, provide them with any information required to carry out the necessary duties
• Avoid causing damage to items that have to be supplied, maintained or repaired by the manager under the regulations
• Store and dispose of litter as per the manager’s instructions
• Comply with the manager’s instructions relating to fire prevention, the use of fire equipment and any means of escape from fire

If this code of practice is not followed by your tenants, they can be issued with a written warning. If the code of practice continues to be broken by them, you may be able to end their tenancy.

HMO basic rules

As a general rule, the following basic guidelines can help to ensure that your HMO property is appropriate for the number of occupants and is correctly managed.

• There should be no more than two occupants per room.
• A shared room must be by people who consent, such as a couple.
• Tenants aged 12 years or older should not share a room unless they are a cohabiting couple.
• Bedrooms and other areas used as a bedroom, such as a loft or basement, must have natural light and ventilation.
• Bedrooms that can only be accessed by passing through another room, such as a kitchen, lounge or another bedroom, are not acceptable.

It’s important to check the guidelines provided by the local council as they may differ. We’ll detail the specific rules that you need to follow for an HMO property below.

HMO requirements and regulations

When renting out any property, it must meet minimum health and safety standards to ensure the well-being of your tenants. For an HMO property, additional standards must be met to cater to shared housing requirements, such as adequate facilities and space, and to reduce the risk of hazardous incidents, such as fires.

The Housing Act 2004 details the minimum standards you must legally comply with when renting out an HMO property. These include requirements such as the provision of certain facilities, minimum room sizes, safety measures regarding fire, furniture and furnishings and a duty of care. If these standards are not adhered to, you risk being fined. If your property has an HMO licence, you risk that being revoked. Whilst we noted the basic guidelines to follow in the section above, the specific HMO requirements and regulations are detailed below.

Minimum room sizes

With multiple tenants living in one property, overcrowding used to be a safety concern with HMOs. In response to this, the government released legislation in 2018 that stipulated minimum room sizes for HMO properties. The minimum size requirements for bedrooms are as follows:

• 51 m² for one person aged 10 or over
• 22 m² for two people aged 10 or over
• 64 m² for one child under 10 years old

When calculating the floor areas, only a minimum ceiling height of 1.5 m can be used. Any part of a room that has a ceiling height below 1.5 m must be omitted from the calculations. Any room that is less than 4.64 m² in size cannot be used as sleeping accommodation.

Communal facilities

There are also requirements for communal facilities, depending on how many occupants live in the property.

Kitchen: one to five occupants

The property must have one of the following requirements:

• A kitchen with a minimum size of 7 m² plus an additional living room or dining room that has a minimum size of 11 m²
• A kitchen/diner with a minimum size of 16.5 m²

Kitchen: six to 10 occupants

The property must have one of the following requirements:

• A kitchen with a minimum size of 10 m² plus an additional living room or dining room that has a minimum size of 16.5 m²
• A kitchen/diner with a minimum size of 19.5 m²

A minimum width of 1.8 m is required for kitchens. This provides the occupants with enough space to move around safely.

Food preparation and storage

There must be adequate space to prepare and store food and the kitchen must have a fixed worktop. For every five occupants, you need to provide a grill, cooker and oven. For six or seven occupants, you can provide a microwave rather than a second cooker.

Bathroom and toilet facilities

There must be adequate bathing and toilet facilities in the property for the number of occupants. For every five occupants, this includes at least one bathroom or shower room as well as one toilet. These need to be accessible from a common area and have suitable functioning locks.

Bedsits

For bedsits, which are rooms containing cooking facilities, different size requirements are applied. These minimum room sizes must be met:

• 13 m² if occupied by one person
• 5 m² if occupied by two people

For this type of accommodation, you don’t need to provide a communal kitchen, dining room or lounge.

Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)

The HHSRS is used to assess health and safety risks in properties. It aims to ensure that a safe and healthy environment is provided for tenants and assesses the level of risk posed by 29 defined hazards. Given a score, each hazard will either fall into Category 1, which is for serious hazards, or Category 2. The category determines what action must be taken. For a licensable HMO, an inspection is carried out within 5 years of receiving the licence application to ensure that no Category 1 hazards exist in your property.

Gas and electrical safety

As mentioned earlier, you are legally responsible for checking the safety of gas pipework, flues and appliances as well as the electrical system. A gas safety check must be carried out each year in compliance with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. The electrical system plus any electrical appliances you have provided for the tenants to use must be tested every 5 years and an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) obtained.

Carbon monoxide detection

If your HMO property contains any solid fuel-burning appliances, you need to install carbon monoxide alarms. This rule came into force in 2015 under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015. All carbon monoxide alarms in the property must be maintained and kept in good working order. Although carbon monoxide alarms are not legally required if your property has gas-fired appliances, the provision of them is recommended.

Emergency lighting

There are mandatory requirements for emergency lighting if your HMO is designed for five or more occupants. The emergency lighting must be installed by a qualified electrician and you need to be provided with an installation certificate for this. It needs to be installed in communal areas, such as the kitchen, shared living spaces, stairways and corridors. The emergency lighting system must be tested and maintained, adhering to the British Standard (BS 5266).

Tenancy agreements

Your HMO tenants will typically have an assured shorthold tenancy (AST). This is the most common type of agreement for private residential tenancies. It sets out the terms for the tenancy and is designed to protect both you and the tenants. Depending on the arrangement, either the whole group will sign one AST or each of your tenants will sign an individual AST.

Tenancy deposit protection (TDP)

When renting out your HMO property on an assured shorthold tenancy, you need to place every tenant’s deposit in a tenancy deposit protection (TDP) scheme. This regulation was introduced by the government for all ASTs that started after 6^th April 2007. Each deposit you receive must be placed in the TDP scheme within 30 days of its receipt.

Energy Performance Certificate

All rental properties must have a minimum energy efficiency rating of E as per the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). This became a legal requirement in 2018. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) needs to be obtained, which assesses the energy efficiency of your property. The rating system ranges from A, which is the most efficient, to G, which is the least efficient. If your property has a rating of F or G, you need to upgrade it to meet the minimum rating of E before you can rent it out. Plans have been confirmed by the government to raise the minimum EPC rating to C for all rental properties by 2030.

You must have a valid EPC in place before a new tenancy starts and at the point that a tenancy is extended or renewed. If you are converting a property into an HMO, you’ll likely need a new EPC as any structural changes can affect the property’s energy efficiency. If significant changes are carried out on your HMO property, such as changing the heating system or the number of bedrooms, you may need a new EPC. Failure to have a valid EPC in place can lead to penalties, such as fines.

HMO fire safety

The risk from fire must be minimised in all rental properties but HMO properties tend to be at higher risk of fire than standard rental properties. As such, the rules concerning this are more complex, with specific fire safety standards and regulations for HMOs. The measures you need to take depend on how many people live in your property and whether any of them are considered to be vulnerable. A guide to fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing was produced by the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) in 2008.

Fire risk assessment

You need to have a fire risk assessment carried out for your HMO property. This is a mandatory requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The assessment identifies fire hazards and how to remove or reduce risks, assesses people at risk and records findings and plans.

Fire doors

Doors made with fire-resistant materials need to be fitted and must comply with a fire-resistance time of 30 minutes. Fire doors must be fitted for the bedrooms, living room, each entry point to the kitchen and along the escape routes. Specific door handles and/or locks need to be fitted throughout the property to maximise safety.

Windows

Local councils set their own requirements for windows in HMO properties. Usually, all rooms require an openable window. A minimum size of window is also usually required relative to the floor space.

Fire escapes

All means of escape from a fire in an HMO property must be maintained in good order and repair and kept free from clutter. The location of each means of escape from a fire must be clearly displayed on a notice within the property in a position that is clearly visible to all occupants.

Fire safety equipment

Mains-powered smoke alarms must be installed on each floor of the property, specifically in hallways and on landings. These alarms must be tested on a regular basis. A fire extinguisher should be placed in each room that could potentially be a fire hazard. Check the local council’s requirements for firefighting equipment, such as fire extinguishers and fire blankets. Also, be guided by the fire risk assessment regarding these fire safety tools. Any equipment provided must be maintained in good working order by the person responsible for managing the property.

You also need to ensure that every occupant receives training on fire safety. This includes knowing where all of the fire escapes are and how to use all of the fire safety equipment. Another fire safety precaution for HMOs is to ensure that areas around stairs and passageways are made with fire-resistant materials. The need for emergency lighting may also apply to your property.

Furniture and furnishings

Upholstered furniture and soft furnishings need to comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. These regulations specify that certain fire-resistance tests have been passed and a safety label is attached to the relevant item.

Legionella — water supply safety

As a landlord, you have a legal duty to assess and control the risk to your tenants of being exposed to Legionella in the water supply systems. You can either carry out the risk assessment yourself or employ someone to carry this out for you. If you use a managing or letting agent, the management contract should state who is responsible for managing the risk from Legionella. If this isn’t specified or you don’t have a contract, the responsibility will fall to you as the landlord.

Your tenants should be advised of the potential risk of exposure to Legionella and any control measures that need to be adhered to. For example, they should leave the temperature setting for the calorifier at the level you have set it, inform you if the hot water isn’t heating properly, clean the showerheads regularly and inform you if there are any other problems with the system.

Planning permission

The need for planning permission depends on the size of your HMO property and the local council’s rules regarding HMOs. A standard residential property is classed as a C3 property and an HMO intended to house three to six occupants is classed as a C4 property. Usually, planning permission isn’t needed to convert a C3 property to a C4 property. Planning permission is required, though, for an HMO property housing more than six occupants. An HMO that’s designed to house seven or more occupants is classed as sui generis. This type of property doesn’t fit into a standard planning category and, as such, requires specific planning permission.

If you wish to buy a property to convert to a C4 HMO and it is located in an area with an Article 4 direction, then you will need planning permission. Local councils use Article 4 directions to control the volume of HMOs in specific areas. Having an Article 4 direction in place means that the local council has removed permitted development rights. If you buy a property without checking this first and then discover that an Article 4 direction applies, you risk the planning permission application being refused.

When applying for planning permission, various factors will be taken into account. These include the number of HMOs already in the area, whether any neighbouring properties are HMOs, whether there are a sufficient number of parking spaces and amenities and whether there are good connections for employment and education in the area. The HMO licence requirements will also need to be met.

Building regulations

You need to ensure that your HMO property complies with building regulations. For example, these can apply when you:

• Change the use of a single dwelling to a multi-occupancy property for more than six occupants
• Make structural alterations
• Thermally insulate the property
• Install electrical and plumbing works

Although you have adhered to the relevant building regulations, this doesn’t indicate that your property meets the required standards for an HMO. It also doesn’t signify that it is free from hazards as depicted in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). You need to meet the necessary building regulations when applying for an HMO licence.

HMO licence

Mandatory licence

If you have a large HMO property, which means that it is occupied by five or more people forming more than one household who share facilities, you need a mandatory licence. This is because large HMOs pose a higher risk than other rental properties and additional safeguards must be adhered to as a result. If your property is a purpose-built flat in a block that has three or more self-contained flats, mandatory licensing doesn’t apply. A mandatory licence also isn’t required for a Section 257 HMO.

Additional licence

Other types of licensing can apply to your property depending on the local council’s regulations regarding HMOs. Some councils impose additional licensing for smaller HMOs. These are HMOs that have three or more occupants from more than one household who share facilities. Additional licensing may apply to specific areas under the local council’s jurisdiction or their entire borough. If your property is a Section 257 HMO or a purpose-built flat in a block that has three or more self-contained flats, additional licensing may apply.

Selective licence

Selective licensing applies to all residential properties, not just HMOs. It can be applied to the council’s entire borough, a ward or even a certain street. If your HMO has fewer than five occupants, it’s essential to check whether the council has additional or selective licensing requirements.

Licence conditions, exemptions, costs and penalties

To be granted a licence, specific conditions – both for you as the landlord or managing agent and the property – must be met. These conditions ensure that your property is of good quality, meets the necessary health and safety regulations and is well-managed. If your application is refused, you’ll have a certain time frame within which to respond. For example, you may need to make improvements to bring it up to the required standards.

Licence exemptions apply in some circumstances. For example, your property may qualify for an exemption if it has two occupants who form two households or if you live in the property with up to two lodgers.

The cost of a licence varies depending on the type of licence required and where the property is located. An HMO licence is usually valid for up to 5 years and relates to a specific property. This means that if you have more than one HMO property, you must obtain a licence, where applicable, for each one. If your property requires a licence and you have failed to apply for one, there can be severe penalties. These can include a fine of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order (RRO), having an invalid Section 21 notice, receiving a ban on renting out properties and the risk of imprisonment. If you breach your licence conditions or rent out your property to more than the permitted number of occupants, the terms of your licence can be amended by the council or your licence can be revoked.

Changes to your HMO

It’s important to report any changes that have been made with regard to your HMO. This includes any changes you plan to make to the property, any changes your tenants have made and any changes to your tenants’ circumstances, such as having a child. This is to ensure that you still comply with safety regulations, licensing rules and legal obligations. Changes need to be reported to the local council and anyone who has a legal interest in the property. For example, a managing agent or a mortgage lender.

HMO mortgages

As you might imagine with the complexity of the rental arrangements and the risks that HMOs pose, a standard buy-to-let mortgage isn’t sufficient when buying an HMO. Instead, you need a specialist HMO mortgage. This caters to multi-let tenancies, with the mortgage terms allowing for multiple tenancies.  Being more complex in nature and having stricter lending criteria, an HMO mortgage takes slightly longer to process than a standard buy-to-let mortgage. It also usually has higher rates to offset the lender’s risk. An interest-only HMO mortgage is often chosen by landlords to keep the monthly payments lower. You can arrange the mortgage in your name or via a special purpose vehicle (SPV), a limited company or a limited liability partnership (LLP), providing you with tax benefits.

Some lenders only approve HMO loans for licenced properties while others are happy to proceed without an HMO licence requirement. If a licence is needed for your property and you haven’t already applied for one, the lender will usually set a time frame for you to apply for your licence while processing your mortgage application. If you already have a licence in place, this may speed up the underwriting process.

Our mortgage brokers are well-versed in dealing with this niche type of mortgage. They’ll ensure that you have the correct documentation ready and will approach the lender who is best suited to handling your unique case.

HMO insurance

Just like arranging a mortgage for this type of property, standard landlord insurance isn’t adequate for an HMO property. HMO insurance is specifically designed to cover the additional risks and intricacies posed by HMOs. Multiple occupants sharing the facilities in your property increase the risk of damage when compared to a single household. The risk of fire and theft also increases. As every HMO arrangement is unique, this specialist insurance is tailored for different types of buildings as well as different types of tenants.

Not only does it provide financial protection for the building’s structure and any contents you’ve left in the property but you’ll also be protected with property owners’ liability cover and unoccupied property insurance. Other optional add-ons let you tailor the policy to specifically meet your needs as an HMO landlord. These include legal protection, loss of rent, rent guarantee, accidental damage, malicious damage, alternative accommodation, domestic emergency cover and employers’ liability cover. Our mortgage and protection brokers can guide you on the types of cover available and help ascertain the amount of cover you need for your HMO property. Your policy will be tailored to meet your specific requirements so that you have the right financial protection in place.

Our HMO specialists are here to help

There are extensive requirements and regulations to adhere to when renting out an HMO property. It’s essential to stay informed of any changes to existing ones or the addition of new requirements and regulations. Whilst navigating them can seem challenging and having an HMO property requires more upfront expense, it can be a rewarding investment that provides you with exceptional financial returns.

Whether you’re a new HMO landlord or want to increase your portfolio, we can offer expert guidance to help you with your HMO project. Our specialist brokers can ensure that you have the right documentation in place, such as a licence and planning permission, where applicable. Working closely with lenders offering loans for HMOs, they’ll approach the right ones for your funding requirements, whether you need an HMO mortgage, remortgage, refurbishment mortgage or an HMO development loan.   

As well as arranging a loan that’s tailored specifically to your property, we can ensure that you have the right financial protection in place. Our mortgage and protection brokers can go through the types and levels of insurance cover in detail with you. It’s important to make sure that you have adequate cover in place without being under or over-insured. They can also guide you on ways to lower your premiums without sacrificing the cover you have. If you have multiple HMO properties, for example, it’s more cost-effective to insure them on the same policy rather than insuring them separately.

To speak with one of our expert advisers, give us a call on 01322 907 000. If you prefer, email us at info@trinityfinance.co.uk or send us an enquiry via our contact form. One of our HMO specialists will get in touch with you as quickly as possible to answer your queries.