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HMO inspection checklist
An inspection of a house in multiple occupation against the manager's duties. Record the licence, occupiers, households and storeys and whether the manager's details are displayed, then check escape routes, fire doors, alarms, fire-fighting equipment and notices, common parts, stairs, water and waste. Enter the last gas safety check and EICR dates and the form warns when they are overdue. Add each room as a space with its alarm, fire door and condition, and set the actions. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.
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What is checked in an HMO inspection?
An HMO inspection checks the manager's duties under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006: the manager's contact details displayed, escape routes kept clear and in repair, fire alarms and equipment working, escape notices where needed, common parts, stairs and handrails, water, drainage and waste, the gas and electrical safety records, and the condition of each letting room and shared facility.
Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 17 October 2026 against regulation 3 of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, regulation 4 of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, regulation 6 of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (landlords' duties), GOV.UK: electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors and GOV.UK: house in multiple occupation licence.
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Every question in the HMO inspection template
An HMO inspection against the HMO management regulations: licence details, the house pinned by GPS, fire safety and escape with the defects counted, gas and electrical safety dates, each room as a space with its floor area against the licence room sizes, and actions. 4 sections and 82 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
Make it your own: every question is editable
This is a starting point, not a fixed form. Once it is in your SiteSurvey account you can reword any question, add or remove questions, sections and answer options, and add your own logo, so it fits the way your team works and the jobs you do.
Details you only enter once
Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
- Project: the project name
- Client: the project's customer
- Site: the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site address: the site address, from the space or the project
Property
- ProjectShort answerFills in from the project name
- ClientShort answerFills in from the project's customer
- Site*Short answerFills in from the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site addressShort answerFills in from the site address, from the space or the project
- Property locationShort answer
Mark it at the front door. On a street with several HMOs it shows which house was inspected. Tap Mark current location on site. It saves the coordinates, a grid reference and the accuracy.
- Inspection date*Date
- TimeTime
- Inspected by*Short answer
- Is the HMO licensed?Yes or No
- Licence numberShort answerShown when “Is the HMO licensed?” is Yes
- Licence expiryDateShown when “Is the HMO licensed?” is Yes
- OccupiersNumber
- HouseholdsNumber
- StoreysNumber
- WarningThe licence expiry date is before the inspection date.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Are the manager's name, address and phone number clearly displayed?Yes or No
- CheckRegulation 3: the manager's name, address and any telephone number must be given to each household and clearly displayed in a prominent position in the HMO.Shown when “Are the manager's name, address and phone number clearly displayed?” is No
- GuidanceThe Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 set the manager's duties: information to occupiers, safety measures, water and drainage, gas and electricity, common parts, living accommodation and waste.
Fire, gas and electrical safety
- Escape routes clear and in good repairChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Escape routes clear and in good repair” is “Defect”
- Photo of the defectPhotosShown when “Escape routes clear and in good repair” is “Defect”
- Fire doors close fully and latchChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Fire doors close fully and latch” is “Defect”
- Photo of the defectPhotosShown when “Fire doors close fully and latch” is “Defect”
- Fire alarms and smoke alarms tested and workingChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Fire alarms and smoke alarms tested and working” is “Defect”
- Photo of the defectPhotosShown when “Fire alarms and smoke alarms tested and working” is “Defect”
- Fire-fighting equipment in good orderChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Fire-fighting equipment in good order” is “Defect”
- Photo of the defectPhotosShown when “Fire-fighting equipment in good order” is “Defect”
- Fire escape notices clearly visibleChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Fire escape notices clearly visible” is “Defect”
- Photo of the defectPhotosShown when “Fire escape notices clearly visible” is “Defect”
- Common parts clean, lit and in good repairChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Common parts clean, lit and in good repair” is “Defect”
- Photo of the defectPhotosShown when “Common parts clean, lit and in good repair” is “Defect”
- Stairs, handrails and banisters safeChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Stairs, handrails and banisters safe” is “Defect”
- Photo of the defectPhotosShown when “Stairs, handrails and banisters safe” is “Defect”
- Water supply and drainage workingChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Water supply and drainage working” is “Defect”
- Photo of the defectPhotosShown when “Water supply and drainage working” is “Defect”
- Bins and waste storage adequateChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Bins and waste storage adequate” is “Defect”
- Photo of the defectPhotosShown when “Bins and waste storage adequate” is “Defect”
- Checks OKWorked out by the form
- Checks with a defectWorked out by the form
- CheckAt least one fire safety or common parts check has a defect. Record what is wrong and add an action with who will put it right and by when.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- CheckRegulation 4: escape routes must be kept free from obstruction and in good repair, and fire-fighting equipment and alarms in good working order. Escape notices are required unless the HMO has four or fewer occupiers.
- Date of the last gas safety checkDate
- Days since the gas checkWorked out by the formShown when “Date of the last gas safety check” is answered and “Inspection date” is answered
- WarningMore than 12 months since the gas safety check. A landlord must have each gas appliance and flue checked for safety at intervals of not more than 12 months.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Date of the last EICRDate
- Days since the EICRWorked out by the formShown when “Date of the last EICR” is answered and “Inspection date” is answered
- WarningMore than 5 years since the EICR. The Electrical Safety Standards regulations require landlords to have the installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- GuidanceRegulation 6: the manager must give the council the latest gas appliance test certificate within 7 days of a written request.
Rooms
- RoomsRepeat for each room. Each one asks:
- Room*Short answer
- UseChoose one
- Letting room
- Shared kitchen
- Shared bathroom or WC
- Other
- People over 10 sleeping hereNumberShown when “Use” is “Letting room”
- Children under 10 sleeping hereNumberShown when “Use” is “Letting room”
- Room length (m)Number
Tape or laser, or measure from a photo of the wall square on with the door in it. Measuring from a photo gives an estimate.
Shown when “Use” is “Letting room” - Room width (m)NumberShown when “Use” is “Letting room”
- Floor area under a ceiling lower than 1.5 m (m²)Number
For example under a sloping attic ceiling. It does not count towards the room size. Leave blank if none.
Shown when “Use” is “Letting room” - Floor area counted (m²)Worked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Minimum floor area for the people sleeping here (m²)Worked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Room sizeWorked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Below the minimum (1 = yes)Worked out by the form
- Smoke alarm or detector working?Yes or No
- Fire door closes and latches?Yes or No
- ConditionChoose one
- Good
- Fair
- Poor
- IssuesShort answer
- PhotosPhotos
- Rooms inspectedWorked out by the form
- Letting roomsWorked out by the form
- Rooms in poor conditionWorked out by the form
- Letting rooms below the minimum sizeWorked out by the form
- Rooms where the smoke alarm or detector failedWorked out by the form
- Rooms where the fire door did not close and latchWorked out by the form
- GuidanceRoom sizes. Licences for HMOs that need a mandatory licence in England must include conditions on the floor area of rooms used for sleeping (Housing Act 2004, Schedule 4, paragraph 1A): at least 6.51 m² for one person over 10, 10.22 m² for two people over 10 and 4.64 m² for one child under 10, and no room under 4.64 m² used for sleeping. Floor area under a ceiling lower than 1.5 m does not count. The council's licence can set the number of people for each room and may have its own standards, so check the licence too.
- WarningA letting room is below the minimum size for the people sleeping in it. Check the measurements with a tape, then check the licence conditions and tell the licence holder.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Walk Cam: HMO walk-roundWalk Cam video with voice-to-text
Optional. Film a guided walk-through on the SiteSurvey app; each clip keeps its spoken note.
Actions and sign-off
- Are further actions needed?Yes or No
- Further actionsRepeat for each action. Each one asks:Shown when “Are further actions needed?” is Yes
- What needs doing?*Notes
- PriorityChoose one
- Urgent
- High
- Medium
- Low
- Who will do it?Short answer
- Due dateDate
- StatusChoose one
- Open
- In progress
- Completed
- Next inspection dueDate
Set by the licence conditions and the manager's own schedule.
- Days to next dueWorked out by the formShown when “Inspection date” is answered and “Next inspection due” is answered
- CheckThe next inspection due date is before the inspection date. Check the date.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Inspector name*Short answer
- Position or companyShort answer
- Inspector signatureSignature
- CheckSigning records what was found on the day. It does not make unsafe equipment safe or replace a thorough examination, design check or service by a competent person.
See it filled in
A completed HMO inspection report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.
HMO inspection FAQs
What does regulation 4 require?
The manager must keep escape routes free from obstruction and in good order and repair, and keep fire-fighting equipment and fire alarms in good working order. Notices showing the means of escape must be clearly visible to occupiers, unless the HMO has four or fewer occupiers.
How often are gas and electrical checks due?
A landlord must have each gas appliance and flue checked for safety at intervals of not more than 12 months, and the Electrical Safety Standards regulations require the electrical installation to be inspected and tested at least every 5 years. The form warns when either is overdue.
What about the council?
Under regulation 6, the manager must give the council the latest gas appliance test certificate within 7 days of a written request. Licensed HMOs also have licence conditions to meet, and a licence lasts for no more than 5 years.
Does each room get recorded?
Yes. Each letting room, shared kitchen and bathroom becomes a space with its smoke alarm, fire door, condition, issues and photos. The form counts rooms in poor condition.
Is this an HHSRS assessment?
No. It checks the management duties. Use the HHSRS inspection form to assess hazards.
Who uses this?
HMO landlords, managing agents, council private sector housing teams and student accommodation managers.
Related
Related templates
Templates that go with the HMO inspection form
An HMO fire safety check against the LACORS housing fire safety guide: escape route, fire doors, detection and alarms, emergency lighting, fire-fighting equipment, kitchens, each room, and the fire risk assessment.
An HHSRS hazard assessment on the June 2026 scheme: each of the 21 hazards with its deficiencies, likelihood, spread of harm, the reasons for the scores and the hazard score worked out by the formula, banded high, medium or low.
Door by door checks (gaps, seals, closers, signage, glazing), 12 month flat entrance door record and remedial work list.
A landlord gas safety site record: every appliance and flue room by room with its checks, analyser readings against the manufacturer's limit, defects and remedial action, counts of unsafe appliances, the installation checks, the engineer's Gas Safe number and the details regulation 36 requires.
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