YUNO KNOWLEDGE CENTRE
Property Compliance Questions & Answers
Clear answers to the questions property professionals ask most about licensing, planning, fire safety, HHSRS, energy, building safety and managing compliance with Yuno.
01. HMOs & Property Licensing
What is an HMO?
An HMO is a House in Multiple Occupation. In England and Wales, a property can generally be considered an HMO where at least three tenants live there, form more than one household, and share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. In addition, certain kinds of converted buildings can also be HMOs (see "What is a Section 257 HMO?" below).
A household can be a single person or members of the same family living together, so three unrelated people sharing a property may form three separate households.
In Scotland, the definition differs: a property is generally an HMO where it's rented to three or more tenants from three or more households who share essential facilities.
An HMO doesn't need to have been physically converted. How the property is occupied is a key part of deciding whether it's an HMO.
Being an HMO doesn't automatically mean a licence or planning permission is required. That depends on occupancy, property type, location and the rules in the relevant local authority area.
Yuno can identify the licensing and planning requirements affecting a specific property.
Does every HMO need a licence?
No. Not every HMO in England and Wales needs a licence, because different licensing regimes apply to different properties. Mandatory HMO Licensing applies to qualifying larger HMOs, while local authorities can introduce Additional Licensing schemes covering other HMOs. The exact requirement depends on the property, how it's occupied and the schemes operating in its area.
In Scotland, the position is different: HMO licensing covers the whole of Scotland, and local councils may apply stricter rules even to smaller HMOs.
What is Mandatory HMO Licensing?
Mandatory HMO Licensing is the licensing regime for qualifying larger HMOs across England and Wales. It generally applies where a property is occupied by five or more people, forming two or more households, who share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom.
Two country-specific rules apply: in Wales only, the property must also have three or more storeys, and in England only, there's an exemption for flats in purpose-built buildings containing three or more flats.
Local requirements and the circumstances of the individual property should still be checked before assuming a particular licensing position.
What is Additional HMO Licensing?
Additional HMO Licensing lets a local authority require HMOs falling outside Mandatory HMO Licensing to get a licence within a designated area. So a smaller HMO may still need a licence.
Because Additional Licensing schemes are introduced locally, their coverage and requirements can vary between councils.
What is Selective Licensing?
Selective Licensing is a locally introduced scheme that can apply to privately rented properties within a designated area, not only HMOs. That's what makes it different from HMO licensing.
A local authority can introduce a Selective Licensing scheme covering specified properties in a particular area, so whether a property is affected depends heavily on its location and the scheme operating there.
What is a Section 257 HMO?
A Section 257 HMO is a particular type of converted building containing self-contained flats. Broadly, it concerns buildings converted into flats where the conversion didn't comply with the Building Regulations in force at the time, and where less than two-thirds of the flats are owner-occupied.
Section 257 HMOs can be affected by specific licensing requirements, including local Additional Licensing schemes.
Because the definition depends on the history and occupation of the building, each property should be assessed individually rather than assuming every converted block is treated the same way.
What is the difference between Mandatory, Additional and Selective Licensing?
The three property licensing regimes differ in scope:
- Mandatory HMO Licensing applies across England and Wales to qualifying larger HMOs.
- Additional Licensing is introduced by individual local authorities and can extend HMO licensing to HMOs outside the mandatory regime.
- Selective Licensing is also introduced locally but can apply to privately rented properties more broadly, not only HMOs.
So a property can be affected differently depending on its occupancy, property type and location. (Scotland runs its own HMO licensing regime: see the England, Scotland and Wales questions below.)
How do I know which property licence I need?
The licence a property needs depends on five main factors:
- where the property is located (including which UK nation it's in)
- how many people occupy it
- how many households they form
- the type and configuration of the property
- the licensing schemes the local authority currently runs
Yuno's compliance technology identifies property-specific licensing requirements rather than relying on a single national rule.
Can licensing requirements vary between councils?
Yes. Licensing requirements can vary between councils. While Mandatory HMO Licensing operates across England and Wales, local authorities can introduce their own Additional and Selective Licensing schemes, and in Scotland local councils may apply stricter rules even to smaller HMOs.
So two similar properties in different council areas can have different licensing requirements.
Is property licensing the same as planning permission?
No. Property licensing and planning permission are separate regulatory questions. A property can require an HMO licence and also have a separate planning requirement.
Getting a licence doesn't automatically establish that the property's planning use is lawful, and having the correct planning position doesn't automatically satisfy licensing requirements. Both should be checked.
Can Yuno manage a licence application?
Yes. Yuno can manage a licence application. Yuno's licensing support goes beyond spotting that a licence may be required: it supports the process from identifying the requirement and establishing what information is needed, through to the application and ongoing compliance monitoring/alerting, along with upgrading the property to compliance end-to-end.
What happens after a property licence is granted?
Receiving the licence isn't necessarily the end of the compliance process. Licence conditions may need to be met, and the requirement may need monitoring through the licence period and eventual renewal.
The council may also come out to the property at any time and enforce further conditions to upgrade the property.
Yuno can track ongoing requirements and renewal dates across individual properties or a whole portfolio.
Can a property licence be transferred to a new owner or licence holder?
No, property licences are attached to the relevant licence holder and property circumstances, and should not be assumed to transfer automatically when ownership or responsibility changes.
Where circumstances change, the licensing position should be checked and a new application may be required.
What is a household?
A household can be a single person or members of the same family living together. So three unrelated people sharing a property may form three separate households, which is a key part of deciding whether the property is an HMO.
What happens if you don't have a required property licence?
Letting a property without a required licence can lead to fines of up to £40,000, Rent Repayment Orders covering up to 24 months, and potential criminal prosecution.
The exact consequences depend on the circumstances and the enforcement approach of the local authority. Yuno can help you find out whether a property needs a licence before enforcement becomes a risk.
How much does an HMO licence cost?
Each local authority sets its own fees, so costs vary across regions. Licensing fees for small HMOs typically range from £500 to £1,000, while larger HMOs with more occupants can cost more, from £1,000 to £2,500 for five beds.
Costs depend on council pricing, the number of occupants, licence duration and any required inspections or certifications. Renewal fees are sometimes lower than new-application fees, and discounts may be available for accredited landlords or not-for-profit organisations.
How long does a property licence last?
Licences are issued for periods from one to five years. Shorter licences can be issued for reasons such as incorrect planning permission or a scheme approaching its end date.
The licence period and renewal date should be monitored, and Yuno can track renewals across individual properties or a portfolio.
How do I apply for an HMO licence?
Applying for an HMO licence typically involves checking the property's planning position, preparing the required documentation, submitting the application to the local council, an inspection, and completing any required compliance upgrades.
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.
10. 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.
11. Approval
The council will issue the HMO licence.
12. 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.
13. 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.ndatory HMO Licensing page publishes a 13-step process; recommend lifting the steps verbatim.)
Yuno can manage this end to end, from identifying the requirement and gathering what's needed through to the application and ongoing monitoring. See Licensing Support
Where does property licensing law come from?
Property licensing in England and Wales comes from the Housing Act 2004. Part 2 covers HMO licensing, both the mandatory scheme and the additional schemes councils can introduce. Part 3 covers selective licensing, which can apply more broadly to privately rented properties.
Scotland operates its own regime rather than working under the Housing Act 2004. Wales has landlord registration and licensing through Rent Smart Wales, which sits alongside the Housing Act schemes rather than replacing them.
What is a property licensing consultation?
A property licensing consultation is the formal process a council goes through before introducing an Additional or Selective Licensing scheme. The council has to take reasonable steps to consult everyone likely to be affected, for at least 10 weeks, and consider the responses before designating the scheme.
Consultations matter to landlords and agents because they are the earliest warning that a scheme is coming. By the time a designation is announced the decision has been made and the timetable is short.
What is a Rent Repayment Order?
A Rent Repayment Order is an order from the First-tier Tribunal requiring a landlord to repay rent, made where the landlord has committed a specified offence. Failing to licence a property is one of them, alongside illegal eviction, harassment, breach of a banning order, and failure to comply with an improvement notice.
An application can be made by the tenant, or by the local authority where rent was paid through Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.
For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026 the maximum is 24 months' rent. Before that date it was 12 months.
Who is responsible for licensing, the landlord or the letting agent?
Either, and sometimes both. The Housing Act 2004 puts the duty on the person having control of the property or the person managing it, not on the owner as such.
The person having control is broadly whoever receives the rack rent. The person managing is broadly whoever receives the rent from the occupiers. A letting agent can fall within either definition depending on what they actually do, which is why agents have had Rent Repayment Orders made against them.
The answer turns on the real arrangement rather than the label on the agreement.
01a. England, Scotland and Wales
Is HMO licensing the same in England, Scotland and Wales?
No. HMO rules differ between the three nations:
- England and Wales: a property is generally an HMO where it's rented to three or more tenants from more than one household who share essential facilities (known as Section 254 HMOs). Certain kinds of converted buildings (Section 257 HMOs) can also be HMOs.
- Scotland: a property is generally an HMO where it's rented to three or more tenants from three or more households who share essential facilities. HMO licensing covers the whole of Scotland.
- Mandatory HMO Licensing applies across England and Wales, with country-specific rules: in Wales only, the property must have three or more storeys, and in England only, there's an exemption for flats in purpose-built buildings containing three or more flats.
Yuno covers licensing schemes across England, Scotland and Wales.
Do I need an HMO licence in Scotland?
HMO licensing in Scotland covers the whole of Scotland. A property is generally an HMO in Scotland where it's rented to three or more tenants from three or more households who share essential facilities, and local councils may apply stricter rules even to smaller HMOs.
The individual property and the relevant council's requirements should still be checked. Yuno can identify the licensing requirements affecting a specific property.
Is Mandatory HMO Licensing different in Wales?
Yes. Mandatory HMO Licensing applies across England and Wales where a property houses five or more unrelated residents who share facilities, but in Wales only, the property must also have three or more storeys.
The circumstances of the individual property should still be checked before assuming a particular licensing position.
Does Yuno cover England, Scotland and Wales?
Yes. Yuno's licensing support covers licensing schemes run by councils across England, Scotland and Wales, including Mandatory HMO Licensing, Additional HMO Licensing, Selective Licensing and short-term let licensing as councils introduce their own local schemes.
02. Planning
What is Article 4 HMO?
An Article 4 HMO Direction is a planning control that removes specified permitted development rights within a defined area.
In the HMO context, an Article 4 Direction can mean that changing a property's use to an HMO needs planning permission where that change might otherwise have been permitted without a full planning application.
Article 4 HMO Directions are location-specific, so the planning position needs checking for the individual property.
Does Article 4 HMO apply everywhere?
No. Article 4 HMO Directions are introduced by local planning authorities and apply to defined geographical areas.
A property in one part of a council area may be affected while another property isn't.
Does having an HMO licence mean I already have planning permission?
No. Licensing and planning are separate systems. An HMO licence doesn't automatically confirm that the property's planning use is correct.
If you apply for a licence and don't have HMO planning permission, then they can give you a short licence (for example, 1 year). You need to reapply if you don't get planning permission by then. You can also lose a lot of money because you might have upgraded the property and then not get planning permission later.
Where both regimes apply, each requirement needs consideration separately.
What is Sui Generis HMO planning?
Sui Generis is the planning position that applies where a larger HMO falls outside the standard C4 HMO use class.
This creates a different planning position from a smaller HMO and can require specific planning permission. The exact position should be assessed for the individual property and proposed use.
What is a Lawful Development Certificate?
A Lawful Development Certificate provides formal confirmation of the lawfulness of an existing or proposed use or development.
For flats, you need to prove 4 years of use in that condition, or 10 years for houses, before you can apply for lawful use.
It can be useful where a property owner needs formal evidence of the property's lawful planning position.
Can Yuno identify planning requirements as well as licensing requirements?
Yes. Yuno covers both licensing and planning. The platform can identify requirements such as Short-Term Let planning, HMO planning, Article 4 HMO issues, while Yuno's support services help you understand and address the relevant process.
Can Yuno help with a planning application?
Yes. Yuno provides planning support from identifying the relevant planning requirement through to application support, with qualified planning expertise available where required.
03. HHSRS & Property Safety
What is HHSRS?
HHSRS is the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, the framework local authorities use to assess health and safety hazards in residential property. Rather than a fixed pass-or-fail checklist, it weighs the risk that a hazard could harm an occupant and how severe that harm could be.
The system now works differently in each nation. England moved to an updated version on 23 June 2026, covering 21 hazard categories rated High, Medium or Low. Wales continues to use the original system, covering 29 hazard categories with bands A to J.
So the starting point is which nation the property is in.
Is HHSRS the same in England and Wales?
No, not since 23 June 2026.
- England uses the updated HHSRS: 21 hazard categories, hazards rated High, Medium or Low, and classes of harm described as extreme, severe, serious and moderate.
- Wales continues to use the original HHSRS: 29 hazard categories, with hazards scored across bands A to J.
The underlying approach is the same in both. It's a risk-based assessment weighing how likely a hazard is to cause harm and how serious that harm could be. The Category 1 and Category 2 distinction, and the local authority's duty to act on Category 1 hazards, applies in both nations. What differs is the hazard list and how the bands are expressed.
What changed in the 2026 HHSRS update? (England)
The updated HHSRS came into force in England on 23 June 2026, the first significant change since 2006. Three things changed:
- The 29 hazard categories were merged into 21 broader ones.
- The ten risk bands (A to J) were replaced with three: High, Medium and Low.
- The four classes of harm were renamed extreme, severe, serious and moderate.
What didn't change is just as important. The risk-based approach is the same, the Category 1 and Category 2 distinction remains, and the scoring threshold for a Category 1 hazard is still 1,000 points. Inspections that had already started before the change stayed under the previous system, and Wales continues to use the original HHSRS.
Which HHSRS hazards were merged in the 2026 update?
The update didn't stop any risk being assessed. It grouped similar hazards into broader categories:
- Indoor air pollutants now cover carbon monoxide and fuel combustion products, uncombusted fuel gas, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and related chemical hazards.
- Domestic hygiene now covers food safety, pests and refuse, and personal hygiene, sanitation and drainage facilities.
- Falls on the level now covers falls associated with baths as well as falls on level surfaces.
- Fire and explosions bring fire and explosions together.
- Collisions, entrapment and ergonomics now covers collision and entrapment alongside the position and operability of amenities.
The same underlying risks are still assessed. They sit under fewer headings.
How many hazards does HHSRS cover?
It depends on the nation. In England, HHSRS covers 21 hazard categories following the June 2026 update. In Wales, it covers the original 29.
The update didn't remove risks from the assessment. It merged similar ones into broader categories.
What are the 21 HHSRS hazards in England?
Since 23 June 2026, HHSRS in England covers 21 hazard categories, grouped into four themes.
Protection against accidents
- Falls on the level
- Falling on stairs and similar
- Falling between levels
- Fire and explosions
- Flames, hot surfaces and similar
- Collisions, entrapment and ergonomics
- Structural collapse and falling elements
- Electrical hazards
Physiological requirements
- Excess cold
- Excess heat
- Damp and mould growth
- Asbestos and manufactured mineral fibres
- Indoor air pollutants
- Lead
- Radiation
Protection against infection
- Domestic hygiene
- Water supply
Psychological requirements
- Crowding and space
- Entry by intruders
- Noise
- Lighting
The assessment considers how likely harm is and how serious it could be for the individual property.
What are the 29 HHSRS hazards in Wales?
HHSRS in Wales covers 29 hazard categories:
- Damp and mould growth
- Excess cold
- Excess heat
- Asbestos and manufactured mineral fibres
- Biocides
- Carbon monoxide and fuel combustion products
- Lead
- Radiation
- Uncombusted fuel gas
- Volatile organic compounds
- Crowding and space
- Entry by intruders
- Lighting
- Noise
- Domestic hygiene, pests and refuse
- Food safety
- Personal hygiene, sanitation and drainage
- Water supply
- Falls associated with baths
- Falling on level surfaces
- Falling on stairs
- Falling between levels
- Electrical hazards
- Fire
- Flames and hot surfaces
- Collision and entrapment
- Explosions
- Position and operability of amenities
- Structural collapse and falling elements
The assessment considers the potential harm and likelihood associated with relevant hazards in the individual property.
What are Category 1 and Category 2 HHSRS hazards?
Category 1 hazards are the more serious risks, and local authorities have a duty to take appropriate enforcement action where they find one. Category 2 hazards are lower-scoring, and authorities have discretion over whether enforcement action is appropriate.
How a hazard reaches each category depends on the nation:
- England, since 23 June 2026: a hazard in the High band is a Category 1 hazard. Hazards in the Medium or Low bands are Category 2.
- Wales: a hazard in bands A, B or C is a Category 1 hazard. Any other band is Category 2.
In both cases the classification depends on how likely harm is and how serious it could be. The scoring threshold for a Category 1 hazard did not change in the 2026 update.
What is an HHSRS assessment?
An HHSRS assessment is an inspection used to identify and evaluate potential health and safety hazards in a residential property. The process typically involves:
- Property inspection. The property is assessed for potential hazards covered by the HHSRS framework.
- Risk scoring. Identified hazards are evaluated on how likely harm is and how severe it could be.
- Remediation. Where hazards are found, the right corrective action can be established.
- Compliance review. Once improvements are done, a further review may be appropriate to check the risks have been addressed.
The hazard categories and bands differ between England and Wales, but the assessment process follows the same shape.
What happens if an HHSRS assessment identifies a hazard?
It depends on the nature and seriousness of the hazard. The property may need corrective or remediation work to reduce or remove the risk, and where a Category 1 hazard is found, the local authority has a duty to take appropriate enforcement action.
Once improvements are made, a follow-up review may also be appropriate to check the property now meets the required safety standard.
Who may need an HHSRS assessment?
HHSRS is relevant to anyone responsible for the condition and safety of residential rental property, including:
- private landlords
- letting agents
- property managers
- housing providers
It can matter particularly where there are concerns about property conditions, or where a local authority has started enforcement action.
Can Yuno arrange an HHSRS assessment?
Yes. Yuno's HHSRS support includes property hazard inspections, compliance guidance, remediation support and proactive property checks, delivered in line with the framework that applies in the property's nation.
Yuno can also take care of HMO and Licence Grade inspections, These are designed to meet licensing requirements and HMO amenity standards and are performed by Environmental health officers accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Yuno can help identify risks across the HHSRS hazard categories and support you in understanding what needs to happen next.
04. Fire Safety
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A Fire Risk Assessment is a structured assessment of fire hazards and the risks they create for people using or occupying a building. It identifies potential fire risks and considers the measures needed to reduce them.
Depending on the property, this can include escape routes, fire doors, compartmentation, detection and warning systems, emergency lighting and other fire safety measures.
Who is the Responsible Person for Fire Safety?
The Responsible Person is the person or organisation responsible for managing fire safety duties for premises covered by the relevant fire safety legislation.
Depending on the building and management structure, this can be a freeholder, landlord, employer, managing agent or another party with control of the premises.
What can a Fire Risk Assessment look at?
Depending on the building, a Fire Risk Assessment can consider:
- fire hazards and ignition risks
- escape routes
- fire doors
- compartmentation
- fire stopping
- smoke and fire detection
- alarm systems
- emergency lighting
- fire-fighting equipment
- risks to occupants
- fire safety management arrangements
The exact assessment should reflect the property and how it's used.
What is fire compartmentation?
Fire compartmentation is the use of fire-resistant construction to restrict the spread of fire and smoke between different parts of a building.
Walls, floors, fire doors and correctly installed fire stopping can all form part of the compartmentation strategy.
Inspections and work should all be taken care of by accredited companies, Yuno has partners that can deliver the required standard and certification.
What is fire stopping?
Fire stopping seals openings, penetrations and gaps in fire-resistant walls, floors and other compartments.
It helps maintain the fire resistance of the compartment and restrict the spread of fire and smoke.
Inspections and work should all be taken care of by accredited companies, Yuno has partners that can deliver the required standard and certification.
Why are fire doors important?
Fire doors are designed to resist the spread of fire and smoke for a defined period. Their effectiveness depends on more than the door leaf itself: correct installation, frames, seals, hinges, self-closing devices and ongoing maintenance all affect whether the door performs as intended.
Inspections and work should all be taken care of by accredited companies, Yuno has partners that can deliver the required standard and certification.
Are residential and commercial Fire Risk Assessments identical?
No. The core purpose is still to identify and manage fire risk, but the building use, occupants, management arrangements and relevant hazards affect what needs to be considered.
A workplace assessment, for example, may place extra emphasis on employees, emergency procedures and workplace-specific hazards.
You need to ensure that your assessor is competent and has the right level of training and experience to perform fire risk assessments, Yuno can help.
Does Yuno only identify fire safety problems?
No. Yuno's fire safety support extends from identifying risks and arranging assessments through to helping you understand the required actions and access appropriate qualified experts.
Can Yuno support fire safety across a portfolio?
Yes. Yuno combines expert fire safety support with its compliance tracking system, helping property professionals manage assessments, actions, documentation and ongoing requirements across multiple properties.
05. Energy & EPCs
What is an EPC?
An Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC, provides information about a property's energy efficiency. Properties get a rating from A to G, with A the highest energy efficiency and G the lowest.
The certificate also provides information that can help property owners understand potential energy-efficiency improvements.
How long is an EPC valid?
An EPC is normally valid for 10 years. Property owners and managers should still consider whether a new assessment is appropriate where relevant circumstances or the property's energy performance change.
What is MEES?
MEES stands for Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. These rules set minimum energy-efficiency requirements for properties within their scope.
Because energy regulation can change, the current requirement should be checked rather than relying on assumptions about future standards.
Can Yuno monitor EPCs across a property portfolio?
Yes. Yuno can identify properties with EPC requirements needing attention and monitor relevant energy-compliance information across a portfolio.
Can Yuno help beyond identifying an EPC issue?
Yes. Yuno's energy support can include EPC reviews, improvement planning, retrofit assessment, guidance and access to relevant experts and contractors.
Can Yuno provide retrofit assessments?
Yes. Yuno's energy support can include EPC reviews, improvement planning, retrofit assessment, guidance and access to relevant experts and contractors.
Can Yuno help assess improvements before work is commissioned?
Yes. Yuno's energy support helps you understand potential retrofit and improvement requirements before committing to upgrade work, so you can make more informed decisions about the property.
06. Building Safety & Building Regulations
What is building compliance?
Building compliance is the process of making sure a building meets the legal and safety requirements affecting its design, construction and ongoing operation. It can cover several areas, including:
- Building Regulations
- structural safety
- fire safety
- accessibility
- energy efficiency
- health and safety
- documentation and certification
- ongoing inspection and maintenance
- Building Safety Act responsibilities where applicable
Building compliance isn't only a construction-stage issue. Compliance responsibilities can continue throughout the building's occupation and management.
What are Building Regulations?
Building Regulations are statutory requirements applying to relevant building work. They set minimum standards across areas including structural integrity, fire safety, accessibility, ventilation, drainage, energy performance and materials.
Relevant work may require plans, Building Control involvement, inspections and formal completion documentation.
Is building compliance the same as Building Regulations compliance?
No. Building Regulations compliance relates specifically to the statutory standards applying to relevant building work, design and construction.
Building compliance is broader. It can include Building Regulations but also ongoing fire safety, building safety, health and safety, certification, maintenance and other legal requirements affecting a building during occupation.
What is a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate?
A Building Regulations Compliance Certificate provides evidence that relevant building work has been inspected and met the applicable Building Regulations requirements.
Evidence of compliant work can matter when a property is sold, let, insured or refinanced.
Who is responsible for Building Regulations compliance?
Building projects can involve several dutyholders, including clients, designers and contractors, each with responsibilities relevant to their role.
Using contractors or specialists doesn't mean every legal responsibility automatically transfers away from the person or organisation commissioning or controlling the work. So the dutyholder responsibilities should be understood at the start of the project.
What is a higher-risk residential building?
A higher-risk residential building is a building falling within the enhanced regulatory regime introduced by the Building Safety Act.
Whether a building falls within that regime depends on statutory criteria including its height or number of storeys and residential use. Where the higher-risk regime applies, additional building-safety responsibilities and regulatory oversight can apply.
What is an Accountable Person under the Building Safety Act?
An Accountable Person is a person or organisation with specified responsibility for managing building safety risks in an occupied higher-risk building.
Where more than one Accountable Person exists, a Principal Accountable Person can have additional responsibilities for the building.
What is the golden thread of building information?
The golden thread is the information needed to understand and manage a building and its safety throughout its lifecycle.
It's there to make sure building and safety information stays accurate, accessible and maintained, so the people responsible for the building can make informed safety decisions.
Can Yuno help identify building compliance gaps?
Yes. Yuno combines technology and expert support to help property professionals understand compliance requirements, identify areas needing action, manage relevant information and access appropriate specialists.
07. Property Compliance
What is property compliance?
Property compliance is the process of making sure a property meets the legal, regulatory, safety and maintenance requirements that apply to it. Depending on the property, this can include:
- property licensing
- planning
- fire safety
- building safety
- HHSRS
- gas safety
- electrical safety
- EPCs and energy requirements
- alarms
- documentation and certification
- other lettings and property-management obligations
Different properties can have different requirements, which is why compliance needs assessing at property level.
What is the difference between simple and complex property compliance?
Simple compliance covers fairly standardised requirements, such as tracking recurring certificates or inspections. Complex compliance involves requirements that depend more heavily on the property, location, building type or changing regulation.
Yuno's complex compliance approach includes areas such as licensing, planning, fire safety and building safety alongside routine requirements such as gas, electrical and EPC compliance.
Why is property compliance difficult to manage across a portfolio?
Because a portfolio can contain properties with different:
- local-authority rules
- licensing requirements
- planning positions
- certificates
- inspections
- renewal dates
- fire and building-safety obligations
As the number of properties grows, spreadsheets and manual reminders make it harder and harder to see which properties need attention and why.
Does Yuno cover more than property licensing?
Yes. Licensing is only one part of Yuno's compliance offering. Yuno's platform and support services cover licensing, planning, fire safety, building safety, damp, HHSRS, gas and electrical compliance, EPCs and energy requirements and wider property compliance.
Does Yuno only tell me that something is non-compliant?
No. Yuno is built around an end-to-end compliance process. The aim is to help you:
- identify what needs attention
- understand what needs to happen
- get the relevant report, certificate, licence, planning support, assessment or expert help
- keep monitoring the requirement afterwards
Can Yuno help get a property physically up to standard?
Yes. Where a compliance issue needs physical work or specialist assessment, Yuno provides access to qualified, experienced and appropriately accredited experts and contractors.
Can Yuno help monitor changing compliance requirements?
Yes. Yuno's technology provides compliance tracking, alerts and regulatory information to help you spot upcoming actions and respond to changing requirements.
08. Yuno Software & Portfolio Management
What does Yuno's property compliance software do?
Yuno brings property compliance requirements into one central system. The platform helps property professionals identify requirements, monitor compliance status, track deadlines and renewals, manage documentation and understand where action is needed.
Yuno tells you What to do, Why to do it and How often, then gets the right experts to solve the problem.
It covers both routine and complex compliance areas.
What compliance areas can Yuno track?
Yuno's compliance offering covers:
- property licensing
- planning
- fire safety
- building safety
- Damp
- gas and electrical safety
- EPC and energy requirements
- wider lettings and property compliance
The exact requirements are assessed at property level.
Can Yuno manage multiple properties?
Yes. Yuno works for individual properties and larger portfolios. If you manage multiple properties, the platform gives you a central view of compliance requirements and what needs attention.
Does Yuno provide automated compliance alerts?
Yes. Yuno provides alerts and reminders for compliance actions, deadlines, inspections and renewals, so you rely less on manual tracking.
Can Yuno store compliance documents?
Yes. Yuno provides document management for compliance records such as certificates, reports and other supporting evidence.
What is portfolio compliance?
Portfolio compliance means making sure every property in a portfolio meets the legal, regulatory and safety requirements that apply to it.
Because different properties can have different requirements, effective portfolio compliance needs property-level visibility rather than treating the whole portfolio as if every asset is identical.
What is a Yuno Portfolio Audit?
A Yuno Portfolio Audit combines Yuno technology and in-house expertise to give a broader, data-driven view of compliance and risk across a property portfolio.
It helps property professionals understand portfolio-level issues and make better strategic decisions.
What is Property MOT?
Property MOT is Yuno's suite of marketing and property-data tools powered by the Property Compliance Checker.
You now have proper MOTs aligned with the new landlord database in England and also more complex MOTs for HMOs and BTR buildings.
It helps property professionals capture property information, spot compliance opportunities and support lead generation.
What is the Property Compliance Checker?
The Property Compliance Checker powers Property MOT, Yuno's suite of marketing and property-data tools. It helps property professionals capture property information, spot compliance opportunities and support lead generation.
Does Yuno integrate with other property technology?
Yes. Yuno has direct API integrations with leading property software including Reapit, SME Professional, GreenhouseOS, Help me Fix and SMS Speedway.
Through Yuno's partnership with Gluedog, that extends to MRI Software, Apex27, Acquaint, Street, Loop and others, with more added regularly.
Is Yuno a property management platform or a compliance platform?
Yuno is compliance-first. Its core role is to identify, track and help resolve property compliance requirements.
Yuno also integrates with property-management and industry technology, so compliance sits alongside the systems property professionals already use.
Does Yuno provide expert support as well as software?
Yes. Yuno combines technology with specialist human support. Where automation alone isn't enough, Yuno provides access to expertise across licensing, planning, fire safety, energy and building compliance.
09. Who Yuno Helps
Who is Yuno for?
Yuno supports a broad range of property professionals, including:
- estate and letting agents
- landlords and portfolio owners
- freeholders
- property and building managers
- developers and investors
- property sales professionals
- property service companies
- Supported living
- housing organisations and other organisations responsible for property compliance
How does Yuno help letting agents?
Yuno helps letting agents identify and monitor compliance requirements across landlord portfolios. It cuts manual compliance admin, gives clearer portfolio visibility and provides access to additional compliance services where action is needed.
Can letting agents generate revenue through Yuno compliance services?
Yes. Yuno lets agents give landlords access to compliance services while creating an opportunity for the agent to earn from services their landlords choose to take.
How does Yuno help landlords?
Yuno helps landlords understand what compliance requirements apply to their properties, monitor ongoing obligations and access support where action is needed.
That's particularly useful where local requirements differ between council areas or where a landlord manages multiple properties.
How does Yuno help freeholders?
Yuno helps freeholders monitor building and property compliance, understand changing requirements, manage compliance across multiple buildings and access expert support where action is needed.
This can include fire safety, building safety and wider property compliance.
Can Yuno help property sales professionals?
Yes. Compliance issues can delay transactions. Yuno helps property sales professionals with items they already know are required in a sales transaction, like fire safety and asbestos reporting.
Yuno also helps when selling buildings and landlord portfolios with full reporting including The Building Safety Act, licensing, planning, certification and wider compliance issues earlier and organise compliance information before a transaction progresses.
Can Yuno support property service companies?
Yes. Yuno helps property service companies extend their compliance offering through technology, compliance checks and access to additional specialist services.
Is Yuno only suitable for large portfolios?
No. Yuno supports individual properties as well as larger portfolios. The right workflow depends on your property, portfolio and compliance requirements.
10. Working With Yuno
Does Yuno only identify compliance problems?
No. Yuno's proposition is end-to-end: from identifying a requirement, through understanding what needs to happen, to accessing the relevant service or expert support and monitoring compliance afterwards.
Can Yuno arrange compliance services?
Yes. Yuno combines its technology with support services and a network of relevant experts. Depending on the requirement, this can include assessments, licensing and planning support, fire safety, energy and building-compliance services.
Can I use Yuno just to monitor my portfolio?
Yes. Portfolio monitoring is one of Yuno's core use cases. You can identify requirements, see which properties need attention and keep monitoring compliance changes and renewals.
Can Yuno also handle an end-to-end licensing process?
Yes. Where a licence is required, Yuno goes beyond monitoring by supporting the application process, from identifying the requirement and gathering the necessary information through to the application itself.
Does Yuno replace compliance professionals?
No. Yuno combines technology with expert support to help you, not take over. Automation helps identify, organise and monitor requirements, while qualified specialists support areas needing professional assessment, advice or physical work.
Can Yuno help me understand what needs attention first?
Yes. A core purpose of Yuno is to make compliance requirements visible and actionable, so you can see which properties need attention and what needs to happen next.
Can I speak to a Yuno specialist before deciding what service I need?
Yes. You can speak to Yuno about your property or portfolio and the relevant compliance requirements before deciding the right next step.
11. Damp and Mould
Can Yuno help with damp and mould?
Yes. Damp and mould growth is covered in Awabs Law and is also an HHSRS hazard category in both England and Wales and Awabs Law, and Yuno provides integrated damp and mould monitoring and alerts alongside its HHSRS support, including hazard inspections and remediation support.
Is damp and mould a compliance issue for landlords?
Yes. Damp and mould growth is assessed under Awabs Law and is also an HHSRS hazard category in both England and Wales HHSRS in both England and Wales, where it scores as a Category 1 hazard the local authority has a duty to take appropriate enforcement action. Where there are concerns about property conditions, an assessment can identify the risk and what needs to happen next.
What causes damp and mould in rental properties?
Damp comes from three main sources: penetrating damp, where a defect lets water in; rising damp, where ground moisture moves up through the structure; and condensation, where warm moist air meets cold surfaces.
Condensation is the most common in rented homes and the most disputed, because it involves how the property is built, heated and ventilated as well as how it is lived in.
The cause matters, because it decides both the fix and who is responsible for it.
What is Awaab's Law and does it apply to private landlords?
Awaab's Law sets fixed timescales for landlords to investigate and fix serious hazards, including damp and mould.
It applies to social landlords in England and has done since 27 October 2025. It does not currently apply to private landlords.
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 contains the framework to extend it to the private rented sector, but secondary legislation is needed first and no date has been confirmed.
What should a landlord do when a tenant reports mould?
Treat it as a hazard report rather than a housekeeping issue, and record what you do.
Investigate the cause rather than only treating the surface, because removing mould without fixing what causes it means it comes back. Establishing whether it is penetrating damp, rising damp or condensation determines the remedy.
Damp and mould is assessed under HHSRS, and a serious hazard can lead to local authority enforcement. Acting promptly and keeping a record of the report, the investigation and the work is the practical protection.
12. Asbestos
Can Yuno help with asbestos?
Yes. Yuno provides asbestos reporting and portfolio tracking, helping property professionals identify where asbestos requirements need attention across their properties.
What is an asbestos survey?
An asbestos survey is an inspection that finds asbestos-containing materials in a building, records where they are and what condition they're in, and assesses the risk they pose.
There are two types. A management survey covers a building in normal use and supports managing asbestos safely where it is. A refurbishment and demolition survey is more intrusive and is needed before work that could disturb materials.
Buildings built before 2000 may contain asbestos, because the ban stopped new use rather than requiring removal. See Asbestos Support
Does my rental property need an asbestos survey?
It depends on the building and what you plan to do to it.
A survey is likely to be needed where the building was built before 2000 and has common parts you're responsible for, or where planned work could disturb materials.
It's less likely where the property is a self-contained dwelling with no common parts, built after 2000, and no work is planned.
Between those two positions the building should be assessed rather than assumed. See Asbestos Support
When does asbestos become a compliance issue for landlords?
Asbestos becomes a compliance issue in three situations: when the building has common parts you're responsible for, when work is planned that could disturb materials, and when the property's condition is assessed, because asbestos is one of the HHSRS hazard categories.
The duty to manage asbestos applies to non-domestic premises. It doesn't normally apply inside an individual let dwelling, but it does apply to the common parts of blocks of flats and houses converted into flats. See Asbestos Support
Who is responsible for managing asbestos in a rented building?
The dutyholder is responsible. That's whoever has an obligation for the maintenance or repair of the premises under a contract or tenancy, or, where there's no such agreement, whoever has control of that part.
In practice that can be the freeholder, landlord, managing agent or leaseholder, depending on what the lease says about who repairs what. More than one person can hold the duty at once, and each one's share is decided by the extent of their repairing obligations. See Asbestos Support
13. Gas and Electrical Safety
Can Yuno track gas and electrical compliance?
Yes. Gas and electrical safety are part of Yuno's compliance offering. The platform tracks the relevant certificates, inspections and renewal dates alongside licensing, planning, fire and energy requirements.
What gas safety checks does a rental property need?
A landlord with gas appliances or flues in a let property has two duties: keep them in a safe condition, and arrange a gas safety check every 12 months. The check must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Once it's done, give a copy of the record to existing tenants within 28 days, give a copy to any new tenant before they move in, and keep the record for two years.
These duties apply in England, Scotland and Wales. See Gas and Electrical Support
What is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR, is an inspection and test of the fixed electrical installation in a property. It reports on the wiring, consumer unit, sockets and fixed equipment against BS 7671, the British standard for electrical safety.
Findings are coded. C1 means danger present, C2 means potentially dangerous, and C3 is a recommendation rather than a defect. A report carrying any C1 or C2 is unsatisfactory and needs work. See Gas and Electrical Support
How often do gas and electrical certificates need renewing?
A gas safety check is annual. An electrical installation condition report runs to a maximum of five years.
A gas check can be done up to two months before the current record expires without losing the original expiry date, provided the two previous checks were carried out on time. Renew more than two months early and the anniversary moves forward to the date of the new check. See Gas and Electrical Support
Are the electrical safety rules the same in England, Scotland and Wales?
No. Electrical safety in rented property runs under three separate regimes.
In England, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require an inspection at least every five years, with the report to an existing tenant within 28 days. In Wales, a five-yearly report has been required since December 2022 under the Renting Homes fitness duties, with a copy to the tenant within 14 days. In Scotland, a five-yearly report has been part of the repairing standard since 2015, and portable appliance testing is also expected on appliances the landlord supplies. See Gas and Electrical Support
14. Short-Term Lets
What is short-term let licensing?
Short-term let licensing is a requirement to hold a licence before letting a property on a short-term or holiday basis. Whether it applies depends on the nation and the council.
In Scotland it's a national scheme, so every short-term let needs a licence wherever it is. In England there's no national licensing scheme, and councils control short-term lets through planning instead.
The position should be checked for the individual property.
Which councils run short-term let licensing schemes?
In Scotland, every council. Short-term let licensing is a national scheme, so all 32 Scottish councils operate one and every short-term let needs a licence, whatever the property type.
In England there's no national short-term let licensing scheme. Councils restrict short-term lets through planning rather than licensing, most commonly using Article 4 directions, and Greater London has the separate 90-night rule.
Because the position varies by council and changes, it should be checked for the individual property.
Does a short let need planning permission?
It depends where the property is, and the answer differs sharply across the UK.
In Greater London, a home can be short-let for up to 90 nights in a calendar year without planning permission. Go beyond 90 nights and permission is needed. The count resets on 1 January.
Elsewhere in England there's no equivalent national cap, and whether short-term letting is a material change of use is judged case by case. Some councils restrict it through Article 4 directions.
In Scotland, letting a whole property in a short-term let control area also needs planning permission.
Is short-term let planning changing in England?
Yes, but not yet. The government has confirmed it intends to introduce a new planning use class for short-term lets in England, C5, alongside a national registration scheme.
Under the proposal, moving a property between C3 residential use and C5 short-term let use would be permitted development, so no planning application. Councils could then remove that right in defined areas through an Article 4 direction, which would require full planning permission there.
Neither is in force. No statutory instrument has been laid, the register has not launched, and the timetable has moved more than once.
Can Yuno help with short-let licence applications?
Yes. Yuno's application support covers HMO, Selective and Short-Let licence applications, from identifying the requirement through to the application process.
Where a short let also raises a planning question, whether that's the London 90-night limit, a Scottish control area or an Article 4 direction, Yuno covers both sides rather than leaving the planning position hanging. See Licensing Support
Templates Existing
Still have a question about your property?
Speak to Yuno about the compliance requirements affecting your property or portfolio.