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What is HMO management regulations?
Last verified 31 October 2026
The HMO management regulations are the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, which set out the duties of the person managing an HMO in England and the duties of the people living there.
Why it matters to landlords
The manager's duties are listed regulation by regulation: giving information to occupiers (regulation 3), taking safety measures (4), maintaining water supply and drainage (5), supplying and maintaining gas and electricity (6), maintaining common parts, fixtures, fittings and appliances (7), maintaining living accommodation (8), and providing waste disposal facilities (9). Regulation 10 sets duties on the occupiers of the HMO.
The manager may be you or a managing agent, so confirm in writing who is doing what. These duties are separate from the licence conditions: you can be fully licensed and still breach the management rules. Breach is one of the offences for which a council can impose a civil penalty as an alternative to prosecution. Keep dated records of inspections, repairs and notices to occupiers so you can show how you met each duty. These are the England rules; check the position separately in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Example
Raj manages a five-bedroom licensed HMO in Nottingham. Each quarter he walks the communal areas, checks the fire safety equipment and emergency lighting, checks the bin store, and records the walk round on a dated checklist, with photographs of anything he fixes.
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Related terms
- HMO (House in Multiple Occupation)
- HMO licence
- Mandatory HMO licensing
- HMO licence conditions
- Fire risk assessment