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What is HMO licence conditions?
Last verified 31 October 2026
Licence conditions are the requirements a local housing authority attaches to a licence for an HMO or other licensed house. Some are mandatory under Schedule 4 to the Housing Act 2004, and the council can add others it considers appropriate.
Why it matters to landlords
Section 67 of the Act lets conditions cover the management, use and occupation of the house and its condition and contents. Examples include restricting use of certain parts, requiring steps to reduce anti-social behaviour, requiring facilities that meet prescribed standards and their upkeep, setting deadlines for works, and requiring training on approved codes of practice. A licence must include the Schedule 4 conditions, and for England these include the minimum bedroom sizes.
There are limits. Conditions cannot impose obligations on anyone other than the licence holder without that person's consent, and cannot require changes to the terms of a tenancy or licence. The council should generally deal with category 1 and 2 hazards through its other powers rather than licence conditions, though it can still set conditions on facilities and equipment. Read every condition on the licence when it is issued, diarise any deadlines, and keep evidence of compliance. Ask the council if a condition is unclear.
Example
Wendy's licence for a six-bed HMO in Coventry arrives on 5 April 2027 with a condition to fit a heat alarm in the kitchen within 60 days and another to provide a waste storage arrangement. She puts the 60-day date in her diary, books the electrician, and files the invoice with the licence.