HMO standards

Water supply

• A supply of cold running water suitable for drinking purposes shall be provided for the use of all occupants in each kitchen.
• All water supplies shall, where necessary, be protected from frost damage.

Personal washing facilities

Bathrooms and showers

• A bathroom or shower room must be easy to access and no more than one floor away from any user.
• The number of bathrooms or shower rooms must meet the following minimum standards:

• Every bath or shower must be properly plumbed with hot and cold water and connected to a suitable waste drainage system.

Toilets (WCs)

• A toilet must be easy to access and no more than one floor away from any user.
• The number of toilets must meet the following minimum standards:

• Every toilet must be in a room with a wash hand basin.
• The basin must have constant and adequate supplies of hot and cold running water.

Drainage

• The property must have an effective drainage system for foul water, waste water and surface water.
• This applies to both above-ground and below-ground drainage.

Facilities for storage, preparation and cooking of food and for the disposal of waste water

Shared kitchens

• A shared kitchen must not be used by more than 5 people.
• If the property is let as a lodging, the resident owner may provide meals.
• Lodgers must still have access to the kitchen to prepare light meals and hot drinks.
• The kitchen must be no more than one floor away from the rooms it serves.
• No more than 2 sets of kitchen facilities should be in the same room.
• Each kitchen must have at least 4 electric sockets (13 amp), placed at a safe height and in a safe position.

Storage of food

• Each household must have a suitable food storage area in their room.
• A refrigerator with a power supply is considered suitable.
• A cupboard under the sink is not suitable for food storage.

Preparation of food

• A worktop must be provided for food preparation.
• It must be:
  • smooth and easy to clean
  • at least 1000mm wide and 500mm deep

Cooking of food

• Cooking facilities must include a gas or electric cooker with:
  • 4 burners
  • an oven
  • a grill
• One cooker is enough in a shared kitchen for up to 5 people.
• A cooker with at least 2 burners is acceptable for one person.
• Cooking appliances must not be placed next to the kitchen entrance.

Disposal of waste water

• Each household must have access to a sink with:
  • hot and cold running water
  • proper waste drainage
  • a draining board
  • a tiled splashback (2 tiles high or equivalent, where possible)
  • a suitable trap connecting the sink to the drainage system
• Only one sink is required in a shared kitchen.

Refuse storage and disposal

• The property must have enough refuse containers for the number of people living there.
• Bins must be placed in a way that avoids causing a nuisance, such as bad smells or blocked access.