Woking Borough Council
Civic OfficesGloucester SquareWokingSurreyGU21 6YL
Telephone: 01483 755855
Summary of the HMO Management Regulations
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A person managing a HMO is responsible for carrying out duties imposed by the The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.
Water supply and drainage
These must be maintained in proper working order - namely in good repair and clean condition. Specifically, storage tanks must be effectively covered to prevent contamination of water and pipes should be protected from frost damage.
Supply of gas and electricity
The gas and electricity supplies should not be "unreasonably" interrupted. The manager must arrange for the fixed electrical installation to be inspected and tested at least once every five years by a qualified engineer and gas safety certificate annually. It is also strongly advisable to service your boiler regularly.
Common parts of the house, fixtures, fittings and appliances
These must be kept in good repair, safe and clean. Parts in common use such as staircases, corridors, passageways, halls, lobbies and balconies must be kept free from obstruction because these may be a fire hazard or block a means of escape. Fixtures and fittings such as power supplies, lighting, baths, wash hand basins, fridges and cookers should be kept in good working order, safe and clean.
Living accommodation
Each room should be in a clean condition at the beginning of the resident's occupation and kept in good repair and clean working order. Windows and other means of ventilation, including extraction fans, must be kept in good repair.
Means of escape from fire
All means of escape from fire in the house and all equipment, systems, etc, must be kept in good working order and free from obstruction.
Outbuildings in common use
Yards, outbuildings, boundary fences, etc, which are part of the HMO should be maintained in good repair and kept clean.
Disposal of refuse and litter
No litter should be allowed to accumulate and there should be sufficient bins provided that are adequate for each householder's requirements. Any rubbish allowed to accumulate is the responsibility of the landlord to remove.
General safety of residents
Adequate precautions must be taken to make sure that premises are safe by design and construction. Fire safety equipment and alarms should be maintained in good working order and all means of escape from fire kept free from obstruction.
Duty to display notices
There must be a notice displayed at all times in a suitable position in the house readily visible to all tenants indicating the name, address and phone number of the manager of the house.
Duties of residents
Residents have a duty to co-operate with the manager of the property, abide by the regulations and allow the manager to enter any room at all reasonable times. In particular, they must comply with regulations in respect of means of escape and storage and disposal of litter, and to take reasonable care to avoid damaging anything. Damage caused by tenants can be regarded as untenant-like behaviour and may be grounds for eviction.