In short: before an HMO inspection, check room sizes, fire alarm and doors, escape route, kitchens and bathrooms against the council’s standards, fix any electrical, gas or damp issues, and have certificates and records ready.
Paperwork
- Gas safety certificate (annual).
- Electrical installation condition report (at least every 5 years) and remedial confirmations.
- Fire alarm commissioning and test records; emergency lighting records if fitted.
- Fire risk assessment, if you have one.
- Floor plans with room sizes.
On site
- Alarms working and interlinked; heat detector in the kitchen.
- Fire doors closing fully into their frames, seals intact, no wedges.
- Escape route clear, with thumb-turn locks on exit doors.
- Kitchens and bathrooms meeting the council’s ratios, clean and working.
- No damp, mould, leaks or broken fittings; adequate heating in every room.
- Room sizes meeting the standard, with no undersized rooms in use.
If the council lists works
Price each item, agree a programme to the deadline and keep evidence of completion. We can price and complete a council schedule of works.
Questions
Can you check my house before the council does?
Yes. We can walk round, list likely issues and price the works.
What if the council asks for more than the standard?
Licence conditions can add specific requirements. We price any extra items separately.
How long do I get to complete works?
The council sets the timescale in the licence conditions or notice.
Checked 31 October 2026. General information for landlords planning works, not legal advice. Check the council’s pages for the exact address.