What Are Landlords Extra Responsibilities With HMO  Properties? 

Being a landlord can be hard work, but HMO property management in Liverpool can present  some unique challenges of its own. HMO landlord responsibilities are greater than those  involved in managing single-family dwellings and there are also HMO regulations and  compliance rules to consider before you invest in this type of property.  

Legal Obligations Of HMO Landlords  

Managing HMO properties in Liverpool comes with some significant legal requirements.

Licensing  

Firstly, there are certain HMO licensing requirements that may apply. UK law demands that  all houses of multiple occupation with five or more tenants from more than one household  obtain a license to operate. In some areas, HMOs with three or more tenants are required to  be licensed. Certain local authorities have their own licensing requirements which must be  checked and complied with before renting out any rooms. 

Minimum Room Sizes And Facilities 

There are other legal requirements that must be adhered to regarding minimum bedroom  sizes and the number of kitchen and bathroom facilities supplied per number of residents.  All HMO landlords in Liverpool must ensure that their properties comply with these  requirements to avoid falling foul of the law.  

Safety Standards For HMOs 

While all rental properties must comply with certain health and safety standards, HMOs  must meet even higher standards to remain compliant with the law. Fire safety in HMO  properties is especially important, with extra smoke and fire alarm requirements being just  some of the crucial obligations that must be met.  

HMO Maintenance Challenges 

HMOs present more challenges in terms of maintenance than single-family properties. With  more tenants and a higher turnover of residents, there will naturally be more wear and tear  to the fixtures, fitings, and furnishings which will necessitate repairs and replacements on a  more regular basis. Communal areas don’t belong to any specific tenant, so will require ongoing cleaning and maintenance, while individual rooms will need to be thoroughly  cleaned in between tenancies. 

Financial Considerations  

HMOs come with more upfront costs than standard single-family rentals and require more  money to be spent on them in the long-term when it comes to maintenance, marketing, and  other elements of HMO property management in Liverpool. Landlords are also responsible for  paying council tax on the property, although this can be charged within each tenant’s  individual rental costs. There are also HMO insurance requirements to consider. Specialist  insurance will be required to cover the potential problems that can arise with this type of  rental property, since standard landlord insurance is not comprehensive enough to cover all  eventualities.  

Tenant Management In HMOs 

HMO landlord duties to their tenants are more time-consuming when compared with those  for single-family properties. Since HMOs traditionally have a higher turnover of tenants,  there will naturally be more work involved in marketing rooms, arranging viewings, vetting  prospective tenants, taking deposits, drawing up individual tenancy agreements, and  managing check ins and outs with all the associated inventory checking and maintenance.  

What Next? 

Adhering to the latest best practices for HMO landlords can certainly be a challenge, but  there are many benefits to be gained from this type of rental investment, not least a higher  rental yield.  

The good news is that HMO property management in Liverpool is much easier when you rely  on an experienced and trusted company like Portus Lets. 

We’re here to simplify the process of managing your house of multiple occupation so you  can reap all the benefits of being a landlord.  

Call us today on 0151 329 3538 or email us at hello@portuslets.co.uk to find out  how we can help you manage your HMO efficiently.