Understanding and navigating the complexities of House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing is vital for landlords, as it ensures compliance, maintains property standards, and avoids substantial financial and legal penalties. 

Yuno offers comprehensive support designed to streamline the entire process, enabling you to effectively secure and maintain your HMO licence. 

Do You Need an HMO License?

There are multiple definitions of an HMO, depending on which country you are in.

England and Wales

254 HMOs, which means that if your property is rented to 3 or more tenants from more than one household, who share essential facilities.

257 HMOs, which means buildings that:

1. Have been converted into self-contained flats; and
2. The conversion did not comply with the relevant Building Regulations in force at that time and still does not comply; and
3. Less than two-thirds of the flats are owner-occupied.

It is common to delve into the complexities of proving that a converted building meets the relevant building regulations, which can often be a convoluted and costly process.

Scotland

Means that if your property is rented to 3 or more tenants from 3 or more households who share essential facilities.

HMOs are licensable through Local councils in HMO, Additional HMO and Mandatory licensing and sometimes in selective licensing. With this in mind, it is vital to check with your local authority to determine the requirements applicable to your specific property or contact Yuno for support. 

HMO Licensing Requirements – What Landlords Need to Know

To obtain an HMO license, landlords need to comply with several primary conditions:

• Fit and Proper Person Test: Landlords or agents must have no criminal convictions or history of breaching landlord laws, which is defined under Part 263 of the Housing Act 2004 (England and Wales) under persons managing and persons in control.
• Property Suitability and Minimum Room Sizes: Each bedroom on the property needs to meet the minimum sizes as set by the Government, though these can be increased by the local council, so ensure you have the correct advice, in England and Wales:
  • 6.51 square meters for one occupant.​
  • 10.22 square meters for two occupants.​

Note: Measuring space in a bedroom is quite complex. Yuno is here to support you should you need it.

• Amenity Standards: The required amenities are based on the guidelines set by the council, so they can vary heavily depending on the council and there are to ensure that, based on the type and number of tenants, the relevant amenities are adequate.

• Fire Safety Regulations: Correct installation and maintenance of smoke alarms and CO alarms, adherence to fire safety protocols, and clear escape routes need to be put in place on the property. 

• • Waste Management: Adequate rubbish disposal facilities need to be in place, and properties need to adhere to local waste management guidelines. 

• HHSRS (England and Wales): Licensing will look at all 29 hazards covered in HHSRS.

• Energy Performance: Some councils push for higher energy efficiency standards, too.
• Complying with the HMO Management Regulations 2006 (For 254 HMOs) or 2007 (For 257 HMOs) (England and Wales): Regularly used to enforce, ensuring you comply with this even before and during the application process is essential. Don’t just wait for the council; take the right advice from an Accredited Environmental Health Officer (CIEH), available through Yuno.

Non-compliance with the aforementioned requirements can result in substantial fines and legal consequences. 

Avoid Fines and Stay Compliant with HMO Laws

By operating an unlicensed HMO, landlords will face severe penalties, including significant fines, eviction bans, and legal consequences. By ensuring compliance, landlords are protected from these risks while also ensuring the safety of their tenants. 

How Yuno Helps You Get Licensed Faster and Cheaper

Yuno simplified the entire HMO licensing process through our structured approach that includes: 

1. 1. Can you let the property as an HMO?: Check all your permissions, including on your lease, if you have one.
   2. Documentation: Prepare necessary documents, including property floor plans and valid safety certificates. Some certifications may not be familiar to you and can be quite complex; it is common for councils to request Fire Safety Risk Assessments (FSRA) and Automatic Fire Detection (AFD) Certification. Yuno can support with simple and complex compliance certifications.​
   3. Application Fees: Fees vary by council and can range from a few hundred to thousands of pounds. Some councils may offer discounts for accredited landlords.​
   4. Application Submission: Submit the application to your local council, along with the required fees.​
   5. Notify all Relevant Parties: As per the Housing Act 2004, lenders, property managers, building managers, freeholders, and anyone with an interest in the property is to be notified legally by the applicant.
   6. Processing Times: The duration for approval can differ, but councils aim to process applications within a specified timeframe, often several weeks but has seen to be years.
   7. Inspection: The council will inspect the property to ensure it meets all standards, at least once in the 5-year licensing term.​ Sometimes an inspection is required before issuing a licence.
   8. Common Reasons for Rejection: Incomplete or incorrect applications, failure to meet property standards, not being Fit and Proper, or a history of non-compliance can lead to rejection.​ Not doing things correctly can add additional costs and risks to the whole process.
   9. Draft Licence: The council will issue a draft licence 21 days before the full licence, this is your time to review.

• Representations: Upon receiving the draft licence, a thorough review should be conducted to ensure you understand what you are agreeing to comply with. It is advisable to seek expert advice to determine if the upgrades are reasonable, as you may save a significant amount of money. Yuno can help.

1. Approval: The council will issue the HMO licence.​
2. Upgrades to meet compliance requirements: Ensure any upgrades are carried out by competent and accredited experts; the council will ask for proof through documentation and certification.
3. Staying compliant with the licence: Ongoing compliance is what licensing is all about, staying compliant to all documentation and certification requirements is complex and time-consuming, but a must to avoid fines. Yuno Tech is designed to help you stay compliant.

By partnering with Yuno, landlords streamline the licensing process and ensure full compliance. ​

What Happens If You Don’t Have an HMO Licence?

Non-compliance with Selective Licensing can result in severe consequences, including:

• Fines up to £30,000 per offence: Local authorities can impose substantial fines for operating without a Licence.​
• Rent Repayment Orders: Landlords may be required to refund up to 12 months’ rent to tenants.​
• Prosecution and Criminal Penalties: Serious breaches can result in prosecution, leading to a criminal record and additional fines.​

Ensuring compliance not only avoids these penalties but also contributes to maintaining high housing standards and tenant satisfaction.​

Ongoing HMO Compliance and Renewal Support

Yuno offers continuous support to ensure your property remains HMO compliant.

We provide:

• Instant checks and Live monitoring of your portfolio: Identifying which properties require a licence and planning couldn’t be easier with Yuno’s API and platform to support you.
• Eligibility Assessment: Determining if your property requires a licence based on local regulations.​
• Licensing and Planning Application Management: Handling the preparation and submission of all necessary documentation to ensure accuracy and completeness.​
• Compliance Guidance: Providing advice on meeting all regulatory standards, including property improvements and management practices.​
• Compliance Upgrades: Yuno provide access to accredited experts for advice and upgrades where required.

• Expert Advice: Access to professionals with in-depth knowledge of regulations and best practices.​

• Compliance Tracking: Yuno tech tools are used to monitor and manage ongoing compliance obligations.​

Yuno is dedicated to providing ongoing support to ensure that landlords are consistently compliant. This ensures that our clients avoid potential and significant penalties associated with non-compliance.