Houses in multiple occupation (HMO)

Houses in multiple occupation pose a greater risk to the health and safety of people living in them. Very often, people who live in HMOs do not know the other people living in the building with them, and the risks of fire and other hazards arise as a result of this.

The Housing Act 2004 provides powers for us to inspect property for Category 1 and 2 hazards. Once inspected, we rate the likelihood that the hazard seen will cause harm to the people living in or visiting the property. To do this, we use the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

Our housing inspectors are fully trained and authorised in this procedure and, following their inspection, they will rate any hazard seen and then consider the most appropriate action to take, e.g.

1. informal action for low-level hazards such as writing to the landlord and listing the problem(s) seen, or
2. serving formal notice for Category 1 and/or high-level Category 2 hazards stating what the hazard is and how it should be removed.