Check whether an HMO has enough suitable facilities

Establish the standard

• Ask the licensing authority which requirements apply to the property and proposed occupation.
• Read any individual condition that is more specific than general guidance.
• Check whether separate units or floors change the assessment.

Inspect practical use

• Check cooking, food storage, washing, toilets, ventilation and refuse arrangements.
• Identify broken or inaccessible facilities and peak-use problems.
• Consider whether a proposed extra resident changes the required provision.

Deliver improvements

• Confirm any building or planning approval needed before alterations.
• Arrange work with occupants and preserve essential facilities during disruption.
• Keep completion evidence and obtain any required council confirmation.

Turn the local standard into a room-by-room schedule

The Newport and Edinburgh links illustrate why a national rule of thumb is insufficient. Check the current edition and the property's own licence before using either.

• Make a table of each room's measured area, permitted occupation, facilities shared and the applicable condition or standard. Record where headroom, access or layout affects usable space.
• For a kitchen, record cooking capacity, sinks, hot water, worktop, food storage, refrigeration, sockets and ventilation. Note whether everyone can reach and use them safely.
• Ask the council to resolve a conflicting standard or proposed exception before buying equipment or accepting another resident. Preserve its written answer with the dated floor plan; do not apply Newport's measurements to an Edinburgh property.

Related guides

• Check local licensing before advertising in England
• Check HMO licensing separately in Wales
• Check HMO occupation and licensing in England
• Check an HMO licence for a Scottish shared home
• Assess a request for another person to move in
• Check licences and registrations before buying a rental